Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has stated that merely changing the leadership of the Awami League will not suffice; there must also be a fundamental shift in their ideology and conduct.

He made these comments during a discussion with journalists after meeting with the families of those who lost their lives in the anti-discrimination student movement. The gathering, which included providing financial support to the families, was held at a park auditorium in Kumarkhali, Kushtia, on Sunday at around 11 AM.

When asked about the potential for the Awami League to change its leadership and re-engage in politics, Shafiqur Rahman responded, "They (Awami League) are citizens of this country, and everyone has the right to participate in politics. It was wrong to strip us of our political rights, and we do not support denying that right to anyone else."

Reflecting on the Awami League government's previous actions, including the prohibition on Jamaat's political activities, Shafiqur Rahman remarked, "In many countries, parties implicated in genocide are outright banned once proven guilty. What happens here will be revealed in time. It cannot be determined solely by today's statements."

Shafiqur Rahman's comments come amid speculation that the Awami League might be contemplating leadership changes as part of a strategy to reassert its political presence.

He further stated, “The 14-party alliance imposed a ban on us. Is there any legal foundation for this? Can I simply declare JASAD banned today? Do I have the authority to do so? Such decisions should be made through state governance or a legal process. They ignored all due procedures.”

In response to a question about the widespread attacks and the filing of indiscriminate cases in various locations, the Jamaat Ameer stated, “I have urged the nation to avoid such wrongful actions. If an innocent person is intentionally accused and harassed among a group of guilty individuals, we would be at fault. We have made it clear that no one should engage in such conduct.”

Claiming that Jamaat is the most persecuted party, Shafiqur Rahman asserted, “We will not arbitrarily target anyone. We have no intention of filing countless cases.”

The meeting, chaired by Professor Maulana Abul Hashem, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kushtia district branch, also featured Mubarak Hossain, an executive member and director of the Jessore-Kushtia region, as a special guest.

In his keynote address, the Jamaat Ameer remarked, “While many claim that Bangladesh has achieved independence, I would argue that the country has been liberated from oppression. We must stay vigilant to ensure that such oppression does not return.”

Following the meeting, the Jamaat Ameer distributed 200,000 BDT in financial aid to each family of the 13 individuals who were killed on August 5 during the anti-discrimination student movement across various districts, including Kushtia.

He also called for vigilance and support for the Hindu community in anticipation of their upcoming major festival, stressing the importance of communal harmony in Bangladesh.

Regarding this, the Jamaat Ameer said, “Those who seek to discredit Muslims by constantly highlighting minority issues are not idle. We must remain vigilant against them. Insha’Allah, we must unite people from all walks of life to prevent any potential misdeeds by these troublemakers, ensuring they cannot disrupt peace or create disorder.”

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