Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said that the interim government should make a roadmap through required reforms of administration and other institutions to hold the general elections within a logical time through discussion with stakeholders.
He said this while speaking as the chief guest at the party’s Rukon Conference (member conference) organised by Khulna city unit of Jamaat-e-Islami at the Al Faruq Society in Sonadanga.
In an interview with Reuters recently, Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman said that that elections could be held within the next 18 months. The Bangladesh Army will help the current interim government to complete key reforms.
In response to remarks of the army chief, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that elections should be held within a reasonable period. He emphasised that the sooner the election takes place, the better it will be for the nation.
However, Jamaat’s publicity secretary Advocate Motiur Rahman Akand said that their party would review the Army Chief's statement in the party’s meeting and respond to the Army Chief’s statement officially.
The stance of Jamaat-e-Islami has been reflected in the speech of Dr Shafiqur Rahman in the Khulna meeting.
Speaking at the event in Khuna, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said, “Political parties should do politics considering the people’s expectations. Those who commit genocide have no right to do politics.”
The Jamaat chief expressed concern over the composition of the Education Reform Commission, claiming that individuals who do not acknowledge Islam have been included in it.
He demanded the inclusion of Islamic scholars from both the Alia and Qawmi madrasa systems in the commission to maintain balance and integrity in the education sector.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman also highlighted the need for justice regarding the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) massacre in 2009 where 57 army officers were killed.
He demanded that those responsible for this and other killings across the country be brought to justice.
He warned that failure to hold these individuals accountable could lead to the return of tyranny and the rise of a ‘third force’ in the politics.
Reflecting on the Awami League’s tenure, the Jamaat Ameer accused the party of widespread corruption and oppression. He claimed that no citizen was spared from ‘plunder and injustice’ over the past fifteen years, with the cries of thousands of victims reaching ‘Allah’s Throne’.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman connected these grievances to the July uprising led by students and ordinary citizens, which he described as a people's movement against the regime's injustices.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former MP Professor Mia Golam Parwar addressed the event as the special guest with Khulna city unit Jamaat Ameer and central member of Mozlis-e-Shura Professor Mahfuzur Rahman in the chair.
Central executive council member Md Mobarak Hussain and assistant director of Khulna region Jamaat-e-Islami Mowlana Abul Kalam Azad addressed the conference while Khulna district Jamaat Ameer and central member of Mozlis-e-Shura Mowlana Muhammad Emran Hossain delivered the welcome speech.
Leaders and Rukun of Jamaat-Islami Bangladesh in all ten districts of the Khulna division attended the conference.
Later, the Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman exchanged views with local journalists, elite and the leaders of different professional bodies at Khulna Press Club.
