Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said his party does not want to take the nation backward but aims to lead it forward through justice, equality, and comprehensive development, pledging to build a country where every citizen can live with dignity, security, and opportunity.
Addressing a massive election rally of the 11-party alliance at Shaheed Smriti Municipal Park in Tangail town, Dr Shafiqur outlined his vision for a future Bangladesh, stressing education, healthcare, safety, employment, and the rule of law as the cornerstones of national progress.
“We want a Bangladesh where every child receives proper education, grows up healthy with access to healthcare, studies in safe institutions, travels on safe roads, and ultimately finds dignified employment. When they mature, they should be able to contribute to building the nation,” he said.
Highlighting the principle of justice, the Jamaat leader said fairness does not mean treating everyone the same regardless of circumstance, but rather ensuring that each individual receives their rightful due. “Justice means giving everyone what they deserve. The law must apply equally to all. If an ordinary citizen commits a crime, they face punishment. The same must apply to the president or the prime minister. No one should be above the law,” he added.
Dr Shafiqur strongly criticised past governments, saying political leaders had made grand promises but failed to implement them, resulting in widespread inequality, rising crime, and deep-rooted corruption. He said these failures had triggered frustration among the youth, culminating in demands for justice.
“Our young generation rose with one simple slogan: We want justice. We want the right to live, education for children, jobs for youth, security for women, a peaceful business environment for entrepreneurs, modern tools for farmers, and fair wages and safe working conditions for labourers,” he said.
The Jamaat chief also described his party as the most persecuted political organisation in Bangladesh’s history, alleging systematic repression under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule. “No other party has seen its top 11 leaders forcibly disappeared. No other party has had its registration and electoral symbol taken away, offices sealed, homes bulldozed, or faced outright political bans. This happened only to Jamaat-e-Islami,” he claimed.
He said repression was not limited to political activists alone, but affected the entire population. “For years, all 180 million citizens were victims. When Jamaat was finally freed after July 5, we did not celebrate or seek revenge. We offered prayers of gratitude and declared that we would not take revenge against anyone. Despite financial losses, we refused to engage in extortion or illegal activities,” he said.
Rejecting what he termed “seasonal politics,” Dr Shafiqur said Jamaat remained with the people even during the most difficult times. “We are not fair-weather politicians who appear only before elections. Despite 15 and a half years of repression, imprisonment, and harassment, we never abandoned the people. We stayed rooted in this soil. No matter what the future holds, we will not leave you, Inshallah,” he told the crowd.
The rally was chaired by Ahsan Habib Masud, Jamaat candidate for Tangail-5 constituency and district ameer. Several leaders of the 11-party alliance addressed the gathering, including Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka North Zone leader Maulana Delwar Hossain, Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Shafiqur Iran, Tamirul Millat Madrasa Principal Dr Khalilur Shafiqur Madani, and candidates from Tangail-1 to Tangail-8 constituencies.
Speakers also echoed calls for justice, good governance, and the restoration of democratic rights, urging voters to support the alliance in the upcoming national election.
