Not obtaining power, Jamaat’s aim is to establish good governance: Shafiqur

The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami does not seek to obtain power, but to establish good governance in the country, the party's Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said today (27 December).

"If Jamaat gets the opportunity to serve the countrymen, it will ensure the end of extortion and land grabbing. There will be no bribery. We want to build a nation that will not tolerate fascism and imperialism," the Jamaat chief said while addressing the party's district activists' conference as the chief guest at the Eidgah Maidan in Jashore.

Addressing partymen, he said, "One party [Awami League] left the country after extorting it. The people do not want another party like that. Has extortion ended in the country? It simply changed hands. People did not die [in the uprising] for this. We must not betray the blood of the martyrs. Do not engage in such heinous acts."

Addressing the participants at the conference, Shafiqur said he wants four things from the countrymen - love for Jamaat in their hearts, support and cooperation, and for the countrymen to stand beside the party. 

Stating that the country was full of misrule before the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League on 5 August, the Jamaat chief said, "AL has ruled with oppression whenever they came to power. Their misrule and oppression were extreme in the last 15 years. The people of Bangladesh and the world did not think that the fascist regime would fall."

He credited the youths for the achievement of the July-August uprising that saw the downfall of AL. "The fascist government wanted to suppress the quota movement with the hammer-and-helmet army. Our valiant children have seized the victory. This is their glory, and ours too, as parents."

On rising commodity prices, he said, "People are burning with hunger as prices of essentials have skyrocketed. This must be controlled. After the fall of the autocratic Awami government, people found their bank accounts empty because the regime looted public wealth and laundered it abroad." 

However, noting that the interim government is trying to improve the economy, the Jamaat leader called on authorities to act with more speed in controlling price hikes and dealing with syndicates.

Speaking about Jamaat's stance on women's rights, Shafiqur said, "Lies are being spread about our position on women's rights. They say we will keep the women captive. We want to say that Jamaat wants to see women as the race of mothers. They will be evaluated according to their merit. Their dignity and safety will be ensured."

Speaking about the party's policy on minority rights, he said everyone has equal rights. "There is no minority and majority population in this country. As per the Constitution, everyone is equal. We live in harmony irrespective of religion and caste."

Stating that the AL has taken away the rights of minorities in this country, he said, "They have done the worst persecution. In 2013, I wrote a letter to the United Nations demanding an impartial investigation. I still stand by that. If we are found guilty, punish us."