Jamaat Amir: 'Calling everyone to prepare for another revolution'
Collected Photo
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament, has said that another inevitable revolution appears to be imminent. "I am calling on all of you to prepare for this revolution. Revolution knows no age. In July 2024, everyone—from children to the elderly—took to the streets. In the future as well, everyone will become young again to fight against fascism and snatch victory," he stated.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at a mass rally organized by the 11-party alliance on the occasion of the second anniversary of the July 2024 uprising, held on Wednesday at the south gate of the National Mosque, Baitul Mukarram, in the capital.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that the July 2024 movement was not led by conventional political parties; it was a mass movement led by students and the youth. Paying tribute to the young leaders of the movement, he noted that over the past fifteen-and-a-half years, various political parties had failed to oust fascism despite their movements. However, during the July movement, people across the country united, forcing the ruling government to flee the country. Therefore, the credit for this movement belongs to the people, and the credit for its leadership belongs to the youth.
According to the Jamaat Amir, squabbling over the credit for the July movement or attempting to establish a single person as the 'mastermind' is unacceptable. In his words, "The mastermind of this movement is the 180 million oppressed people."
He believes that political divisions should not be created over the martyrs. They are not the asset of any particular party; they are the asset of the nation. He called for ensuring proper medical treatment and rehabilitation for the injured and disabled July fighters, as well as dignified rehabilitation for the families of the martyrs. He also demanded that those involved in the July killings be brought to justice swiftly.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman alleged that many of the promises made before the election are not being implemented after the government came to power. Respecting the verdict given by the people in the referendum and calling for its implementation, he said that ignoring the people's verdict does not lead to good political outcomes.
The Jamaat Amir said they are facing various pressures and temptations regarding the people's verdict. However, they will not back away from the people's verdict in exchange for anything. He also pledged to act as the guardian of the people's verdict.
Expressing concern over recent clashes in various educational institutions across the country, he warned that there are fears of a recurrence of the "common room-guest room" culture and fascist behavior in academic arenas. He called for building resistance wherever fascist tendencies emerge.
Criticizing the government, the Jamaat Amir said, "Trust with the people has been broken within just a few months." He also commented that if people's expectations are not met and fascist behavior is repeated, the consequences will not be favorable.
He further stated that creating a gas crisis to raise prices and increase public suffering is a misguided policy. He also alleged that the legacy of past looting and plundering is continuing.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said that Jamaat's goal is to build a stain-free, fascism-free, humane, and justice-based Bangladesh. He also declared that the movement will continue until that goal is achieved.
