Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said: “On this historic occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings and sincere gratitude to the honorable attendees of this important press conference — respected dignitaries, journalist friends, key figures of civil society, esteemed members of various diplomatic missions, leaders of political parties, leaders of religious organizations, and distinguished guests.”
“We hope that the government will continue to hold dialogues with leaders of all political parties and pass the July Declaration by July. Based on that, the government will complete fundamental reform processes. Following that, the Election Commission will revise the voter list and present an accurate, error-free list to the nation. The new voter list must include expatriate Bangladeshi citizens. It is also necessary for the government to improve the law-and-order situation and create an environment conducive to a free, fair, neutral, and participatory election.”
He made these remarks while addressing a press conference held on June 3 at 11:30 AM at the ‘Sheraton Dhaka’ hotel on Kamal Atatürk Avenue in Dhaka.
Ambassadors, high commissioners, and diplomats from various countries including the European Union, Russia, China, France, Pakistan, India, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were present at the event.
Among the national leaders, Joint Secretary General of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh Maulana Azizul Haque Islamabadi; Nayeb-e-Ameer of Khelafat Majlis Maulana Ahmad Ali Qasemi; Ameer of a faction of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Maulana Abu Jafar Qasemi, Secretary General of the same faction, Mufti Fakhrul Islam; Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Khelafat Andolon Mufti Sultan Mohiuddin; Secretary General of Islami Oikya Jote Mufti Sakhawat Hossain Raji; Chairman of Jatiyatabadi Ganatantrik Andolon Bobby Hajjaj, Vice President and Spokesperson of JAGPA, Engineer Rashed Pradhan; and Vice Chairman of Bangladesh Labour Party S.M. Yusuf were present on the occasion.
Also in attendance were: Principal of Madrasa-e-Aliya Dhaka Professor Muhammad Obaidul Haque; Acting Principal of Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasa (Mirhazirbagh) Dr. Khalilur Rahman Madani; Principal of Uttar Badda Islamia Kamil Madrasa Dr. Anwar Hossain Molla, Principal of Mesbahul Uloom Kamil Madrasa Dr. Maulana Mohiuddin; Principal of Nesaraiya Kamil Madrasa Maulana Abu Hanif, Mufti Nuruzzaman Nomani, Editor of Daily Sangram, Azam Mir Shahidul Ahsan, Executive Editor of Daily Naya Diganta, Salauddin Babar, its News Editor Masumur Rahman Khalili; veteran journalist Elahi Newaz Khan Shazu, President of Dhaka Journalists Union, Shahidul Islam; Chief Reporter of Daily Sangram Shamsul Arefin; former Vice Chancellor of Manarat International University Professor Dr. Umar Ali; renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Iqbal Hossain; Brigadier General (Retd.) A.B. Hasan Nasir; and Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Hasinur Rahman, among others.
The program was moderated by Central Executive Council Member and Secretary of the Central Publicity and Media Department of Jamaat-e-Islami by Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda. Among the organization’s leaders, Nayeb-e-Ameer and former Member of Parliament Professor Mujibur Rahman; former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher; Acting Secretary General Maulana ATM Masum; Assistant Secretary Generals Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dr. Hamidur Rahman Azad, Maulana Abdul Halim; Advocate Muazzam Hossain Helal; Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubayer; and Central Executive Council Members Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Mr. Abdur Rob, and Mr. Mobarak Hossain.
Also in attendance were Jamaat’s Dhaka South City Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul; Dhaka North City Ameer Md. Selim Uddin; Dhaka North City Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim; Islami Chhatrashibir Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam; and other members of the party secretariat were present on the occasion.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman further stated that the absence of elected local government representatives has led to numerous hardships for the people. In this context, before the national election, Jamaat is calling for elections to local government bodies. Through these elections, the people will also get a clear picture of the capabilities of those representatives.
Regarding the upcoming national election, the Jamaat Ameer said that after completing the necessary reforms, a fair and neutral election must be held within the timeline set by the interim government. The election may take place before or after the upcoming Ramadan next year. However, he clarified that Jamaat has not taken any decision to demand a fixed date for holding an election.
Emphasizing the importance of registering expatriate Bangladeshis as voters, he said, “We have long been raising the issue of giving voting rights to expatriates. But we are yet to see any visible steps from the Election Commission. We are concerned. Jamaat considers this issue with utmost seriousness. We expect the Election Commission to uphold the dignity of their office.”
He further remarked, “Over the past years, various forms of unethical and unjust burdens have repeatedly been imposed on us. There have been deliberate efforts to halt our progress. The most severe blow came during the last regime, beginning on June 29, 2010, and continuing until August 4, 2024. Our top eleven leaders were executed through the manipulation of the judicial system. Our party’s registration was canceled. Individuals were abducted from their dining tables and falsely accused of treason. A large number of our leaders and activists were forcibly disappeared. Countless individuals were confined in secret torture cells — the so-called ‘Aaina Ghar’ — where they were subjected to years of physical and psychological torture. Our offices were sealed. We couldn’t even live peacefully in our own homes. The country’s religious scholars and journalists weren’t spared either. The murder of journalist couple Sagar and Runi remains a painful wound to this day.”
He recalled, “In 2008, Jamaat-e-Islami fulfilled all conditions set by the Election Commission and was duly registered. Nevertheless, our registration was unjustly revoked through a flawed and biased verdict by the court. Our electoral symbol was also stripped away. We appealed against that verdict. On June 1, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court unanimously declared the previous High Court ruling illegal and void. They directed the Election Commission to reinstate Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration and electoral symbol to the status that existed prior to 2013. We are grateful to Almighty Allah for this outcome.”
He added, “Had the dramatic political shift of August 5 not occurred, we might still be waiting to reclaim our rightful status. Therefore, I extend heartfelt gratitude, especially to the revolutionaries of July and August. May Allah accept those who gave their lives while resisting fascism as martyrs. We express our deep sympathy to those who were wounded or disabled. May Allah grant them patience and bless them with full recovery and health.”
He further said, “Under the caretaker government formula developed and proposed by former Jamaat Ameer and former DUCSU General Secretary Professor Ghulam Azam (may Allah have mercy on him), the national elections of 1991, 1996, and 2001 were held in a free, fair, and impartial manner; those elections gained widespread acceptance both at home and abroad. Later, in an effort to permanently cling to power, the Awami League abolished the caretaker government system. In 2014, they held an election without votes; in 2018, they cast the votes during the night for the day; and in 2024, they conducted a sham election — thereby completely destroying the electoral system of the country.”
“We are hopeful that very soon, we will officially regain our party registration and electoral symbol. We expect the current Election Commission to uphold the dignity of their office.”
He added, “Our prayer for the future of Bangladesh is that it becomes a truly democratic, humane, corruption-free, and just nation. We are committed to the youth of this country. We want to see them as the architects of this nation, and we are prepared to fulfill our responsibilities in shaping the youth communities into those architects.”
“May Allah protect beloved Bangladesh. May He assist this nation in building a Bangladesh of hope. And may Allah safeguard this country from ever again falling into the grip of fascism, Ameen.”
“Thank you, everyone.”
