Government Has Betrayed Its Own Manifesto, Says Jamaat

The government has betrayed its own election manifesto by appointing unelected administrators to the local government system, said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.

He said, "The government has also failed to fulfill its promise of ensuring the independence of the judiciary. There was a critical need to form an independent commission to stop the culture of forced disappearances, killings, and human rights violations. Instead of doing so, the ruling authorities are seeking to maintain absolute control over both the judiciary and the administration."

The Jamaat chief made these remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing a divisional rally of the 11-party alliance at the Rajshahi Alia Madrasah ground. The rally was organized to demand the implementation of the "July Charter" and a fair share of the Padma River water.

Directing his speech toward the BNP, the Jamaat Ameer said, "You were the ones who said the country needed to be repaired and the constitution reformed. Now, you claim you do not understand what reforms actually mean. Did you make those promises without understanding them back then?"

Accusing the ruling authorities of undermining the spirit of the July movement, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman warned, "If the mandate of the people's referendum is not implemented, the movement will spill over from the parliament onto the streets. If the current government ignores the public mandate, it will face a downfall just like the autocrats of the past."

Issuing a warning to the BNP, the Jamaat Ameer cautioned, "You are walking down the very same path that past autocrats once trod. Extortion and forced occupations have turned into a massive festival across the country right now. None of those in power are taking effective measures against these extortionists. People have started saying that everyone from head to toe is involved in extortion. Otherwise, why isn't this stopping?"

The Jamaat Ameer further alleged that unqualified and party-backed individuals are being appointed to various vital institutions, including the Bangladesh Bank. He claimed, "The government has also made appointments in public universities based entirely on party lines. As a result, both the education and administrative systems are on the brink of destruction. If efficient, qualified, and patriotic individuals are removed from the administration to be replaced by partisan sycophants, not only the nation but the government itself will have to pay a heavy price."

During the rally, the Jamaat Ameer also spoke strongly regarding a fair share of water from the Teesta and Padma rivers. He said, "Due to the Farakka Barrage, the Padma turns virtually into a desert during the dry season and causes severe suffering during the monsoon. The government must swiftly implement the Padma Barrage project and adopt the Teesta Master Plan."

Presided over by Jamaat’s Assistant Secretary General and Northern Regional Director, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, the rally was also addressed by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Colonel (Retd.) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram, Jamaat’s Senior Naib-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman, NCP Chief Organizer (Northern Region) Sarjis Alam, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Secretary General Allama Jalaluddin Ahmad, Nezame Islam Party Ameer Abdul Kaiyum Sobhani, Khelafat Majlish Naib-e-Ameer Professor Sirajul Haque, Jamaat’s Dhaka Metropolitan South Ameer and Member of Parliament for Chapainawabganj Sadar constituency Nurul Islam Bulbul, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasirduddin Patwari, and National Nari Shakti Convenor Monira Sharmin, among others.