At Kakrail, Jamaat Amir Shafiqur Rahman Says Country Will Not Be Leased to Any Fascist Force

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said: 'This Bangladesh belongs to all of us. We will not lease Bangladesh to any fascist force. We will look after our Bangladesh and guard it.'

He made these remarks on Tuesday afternoon, 27 October, as chief guest at a discussion meeting held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail in the capital.

Shafiqur Rahman said the Awami League has never been able to leave power normally after completing its state responsibilities. The party has always left humiliated and disgraced. If anyone wants to follow that path again, their fate will not be different, he said.

The opposition leader said: 'We do not want revenge trials, we want justice. Let alone hanging someone unjustly, we do not want even a hair on anyone's body to be pulled unjustly. But if there is justice, the maximum punishment for every criminal will be ensured.'

Raising the suffering of families of victims of enforced disappearances and killings in the past, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said many of his party colleagues have died after being tortured. Their families have still not found the graves of some of them. Many parents still do not know whether their children are alive or dead. If they have died, they do not know where their graves are. He said these incidents happened over the past 15 years, yet some people are still indulging that force.

The opposition leader said if politics means killing people, then the Awami League can do politics. But if politics means building the country for people's welfare, taking the country forward, establishing justice in society and removing discrimination, then the Awami League does not have that qualification. For this reason, he commented, the party should not have the right to do politics in Bangladesh.

On the future of Awami League supporters, Shafiqur Rahman said those in that party who are good people and love the country will find a political address of their own choice. But he urged no one to imagine that fascism will return to Bangladesh again.

Remembering those killed in July, he said may Almighty Allah accept them all as martyrs. Their blood will be remembered for life with deep respect and gratitude. Every effort will be made to repay the debt of their blood and there will be no compromise on this, he said.

On political reform and the referendum, the Jamaat Amir said people gave their verdict in the referendum in favour of change because they wanted a change from fascism. People did not vote in the referendum just to bring some changes to the constitution or fulfil the obligations of a proclamation. People wanted a change in politics, a political system for the welfare of the country and the people, where no one will get the opportunity to become fascist again.

Addressing the government, Shafiqur Rahman said those who suffered the torment of fascism for a long time alongside his party and are now in government should not forget the past experience. There will be no benefit in forgetting the past, he said.

The Jamaat Amir said: 'In the past too we never bowed to injustice, and we will not do so now, InshaAllah. For the people, to build a humane Bangladesh of justice and fairness, and to bring the killers of all killings to justice, we will continue the struggle.'