Quickpost | Kushtia | District Correspondent
Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, has said his party will not pursue revenge politics despite years of repression, arrests and bans.
Speaking at an election rally at Abrar Fahad Stadium in Kushtia on Monday, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Jamaat leaders and activists were killed, repeatedly jailed, party offices shut down, homes demolished with bulldozers and eventually the party was banned.
“After all this, on the night of August 5, we clearly announced that we would not take revenge on anyone,” he said. “No one will be falsely implicated in cases. We have not unjustly accused a single person.”
Referring to Abrar Fahad, the Jamaat chief described him as a symbol of Bangladesh’s sovereignty and resistance.
“Abrar Fahad is a name of rebellion,” he said. “His only ‘crime’ was raising his pen against domination. That is why he was brutally taken from this world.”
He added that the 2024 mass uprising proved that the youth of Bangladesh fear no one except Allah, paying tribute to those who lost their lives during the movement.
Speaking on local issues, Dr Shafiqur Rahman criticised long-standing river mismanagement in Kushtia, particularly involving the Padma and Gorai rivers. He said repeated budget allocations for river dredging failed to bring results, while river erosion continued to destroy livelihoods year after year.
He also warned Jamaat supporters against involvement in extortion, admitting that some activists were drawn into such activities after August.
“If anyone is doing this out of hardship, step away from it,” he said. “We are ready to share our lawful sustenance. Extortion has no place in our politics.”
Outlining his party’s vision, he said Jamaat wants to build a Bangladesh where both men and women have access to dignified employment, with a special focus on empowering young people to rebuild the country.
Leaders of the 11-party alliance were present at the rally, along with senior Jamaat figures and local candidates from Kushtia constituencies.
