On Friday, 4 July at 3:00 PM, a massive rally organized by Rangpur City and District Jamaat-e-Islami was held at the District High School field, presided over by Rangpur City Ameer Maulana ATM Azam Khan. The event's chief guest was Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.
Special guests included Jamaat’s Central Executive Council Member and former Acting Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam; Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman; Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar; Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan; Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional coordinator Maulana Abdul Halim, Dhaka South City Ameer Mr. Nurul Islam Bulbul; Dhaka City Metropolitan Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin; Central Working Committee Member and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Assistant coordinator Maulana Momtaz Uddin; Central Working Committee Member and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Team Member Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal; Central Majlis-e-Shura Member and Rangpur District Ameer Professor Muhammad Golam Rabbani; and Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir's Central President Zahidul Islam. Local leaders from the metropolitan and district branches also addressed the gathering.
In a stern warning, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared, “If anyone dreams of an election like the Awami-style fascism, then with the help of Allah, we will turn that dream into a nightmare. We will not let that dream become a reality. We will not allow any administrative coup. There will be no thug rule at polling stations. The game of black money will not be tolerated."
He added: “Even though martyrs like Abu Sayeed are no longer with us, the voice, the lesson, and the inspiration they left behind continue to motivate us. Our struggle will continue until a humane Bangladesh is established.”
He further stated that it was Jamaat-e-Islami’s former Ameer, Professor Ghulam Azam, who first proposed the caretaker government model to the nation to protect the people's right to vote. Based on that proposal, three successive free and fair national elections were held from 1991 onward. But later, the caretaker system was abolished. In the past 15 years,” Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, “a total of 11 top leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami have been executed. Had they been alive, they would have led the nation from darkness to light and shown the right path to the people.”
He said, “Our honored martyred leaders never bowed their heads to anyone even for a moment. The heads they bowed only before Allah were never sold out to greed or temptation. They were never concerned about threats or intimidation. Rather, they went to the gallows with smiles on their faces. The fact that they were completely innocent has been proven through the full acquittal of our brother ATM Azharul Islam.”
He further stated, “For the liberation of humanity, the youth must be ready to sacrifice their lives. This struggle must continue until true human emancipation is achieved. It is deeply regrettable that although we earned a free and independent country through the sacrifice of thousands of brave souls, today we cannot even show the patience to protect it. When we open the pages of the newspaper or watch satellite TV, we see the black claws of vicious individuals — attacking our mothers and sisters, attacking lives and wealth. They have become so desperate that they now hesitate not even to kill their own party members.”
Speaking about elections, he said, “In the current situation, a fair election is absolutely impossible. Certain fundamental reforms are essential to ensure a fair election. We demand those reforms and will achieve them, and we will ensure a free and fair election.”
He addressed the people of Rangpur, saying: “Your very own ‘Abu Sayeed’ is the icon of this great transformation in the country. His proud father and other family members are present here today. We express our gratitude to the Almighty Allah and pray that He Himself assumes responsibility for these families of martyrs. May Allah honor these families both in this world and in the Hereafter. May we hold close to our hearts the lessons and teachings that the martyrs of these families left behind in their fight — so that we can continue the struggle for the liberation of humanity.”
He concluded, “If the Almighty Allah accepts Jamaat-e-Islami to serve the nation, then we will move forward, carrying the youth on our shoulders. In shaa Allah. He said, “We envision a society that will fulfill the dreams of our martyrs — a society where there will be no discrimination, no division based on caste, creed, or religion. We will move forward by uniting the entire nation, bringing together people of all political views, faiths, and backgrounds.
Referring to the people killed, injured, or maimed during the 2024 mass uprising, he said, “The people demand justice for every one of them. If we can ensure justice for these atrocities, then no one will dare to commit such heinous acts again just to please their political party. But if there is no justice, then this culture of impunity will turn Bangladesh into a jungle — and we will not let that happen.”
Regarding the upcoming national election, he said, “Even before the election, we are witnessing numerous conspiracies and hearing all kinds of rumors in the field. Signs of various kinds of election engineering are emerging. We want to remind everyone — Sheikh Hasina, despite having all the state forces, immense power, and her loyal people placed in every sector, could not save herself in the end. If anyone thinks they can succeed by following that same path — I warn them, the time to come to your senses is now.”
ATM Azharul Islam said, “I never imagined I would be able to stand before you and speak at a public rally. I was prepared to hang from the gallows in prison. But by the infinite mercy of Allah, I have gone from the gallows to the stage of the people — Alhamdulillah. The neck that was once destined for the hangman’s noose now wears a garland of flowers. This is nothing but the special mercy of Allah. People of Rangpur, you are witnesses — I am not a criminal. Yet I was tortured as if I were one. False testimonies were forcibly extracted from others against me. But I hold no grudge or complaint against any of them.”
He further said, “The first step toward our liberation was Abu Sayeed. It was upon his blood that the momentum of the struggle accelerated, culminating on August 5. His martyrdom paved the way for my own release. I demand a swift trial of those responsible for Abu Sayeed’s murder. Those I worked with — including Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami — were executed on false charges. I pray for the forgiveness of their souls and express my deepest condolences to their families.”
He added, “Those who were executed based on false accusations of crimes against humanity — all those involved in these trials, in whatever capacity, must be brought to justice without delay. I strongly urge the current interim government to ensure immediate and fair trials for those involved, and to provide appropriate compensation to the affected families.” He emphasized, “This verdict has not only acquitted ATM Azharul Islam, but it has also cleared Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from all false allegations. This is a special mercy from Allah.”
Professor Mujibur Rahman stated, “As a result of the recent movement, the fascists have fled. Bangladesh has been liberated. We can now speak freely, hold public rallies, and walk in the open air. Those who ruled the country for the past 54 years in the name of securing rice and voting rights have done nothing for the people. Until the laws of the Qur’an are implemented, true peace can never prevail in this country. We must rebuild a mass movement to ensure that man-made laws never enter our Parliament again.”
Secretary General Professor Mia Golam Porwar said, “Jamaat Ameer has called for national unity to build a new Bangladesh. He has urged everyone to uphold the spirit of the July Uprising. Nearly 2,000 students and citizens sacrificed their precious lives, and about 30,000 have been injured or disabled — he has called upon the nation to fulfill their dream.” He continued, “In this movement, the people and students demanded justice. And true justice lies only in Allah’s Qur’an — we must implement it. The unity we now see among Islamic forces must be utilized to build a just Bangladesh in the future.”
Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan stated, “For the past 15 and a half years, this country has been ruled without Islam, based instead on Indian spiritual doctrines and rituals. They prioritized foreign interests over national interests and, with the help of their foreign masters, established a fascist regime.”
He continued, “To change this situation, we must build the future of Bangladesh under the leadership of Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. The tyrannical government, even with all its power, could not execute our beloved leader ATM Azharul Islam, by the grace of Allah.” Finally, he called upon the people of Rangpur saying that “In the upcoming election, under the leadership of ATM Azharul Islam, I urge you to deliver a historic and surprising result in favor of Jamaat.”
