With seven-point demands—including the creation of a level playing field for holding free, fair, impartial, and peaceful elections, ensuring justice for all mass killings, implementing essential constitutional reforms, enforcing the July Charter and Declaration, rehabilitating the families of those martyred and injured in the July uprising, holding national elections through the Proportional Representation (PR) system, and enabling more than one crore (10 million) expatriates to cast their votes—the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized a National Rally today, 19 July at 2:00 PM at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.
The assembly began with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an and was presided over by Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
In his presidential address, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said: “We express our gratitude to those whose sacrifices and martyrdom led to the downfall of fascists. We will always remember them and do whatever is needed for their welfare. May we never dishonor them. Let us not belittle or mock other political parties either. We shall uphold political decency and build the foundation of national unity. All the speakers here today have echoed the thoughts of my heart. We now must wage one more battle—the fight against corruption. And in that fight, we will be victorious, InshaAllah. We will build a corruption-free Bangladesh, Insha Allah.
Jamaat MPs, if elected, will not take tax-free vehicles nor accept state flats. We must ensure that the perpetrators of the mass killings across the country—the massacre of 24 November, the Pilkhana massacre, and the Shapla Chattar massacre—are brought to justice.”
On the way to attend the National Rally, Maulana Abu Sayeed, Ameer of Jamaat’s Dakope Upazila (Khulna), Mostafizur Rahman of Ishwardi Upazila (Pabna), and Shah Alam of Rangpur, passed away (Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un). Ameer-e-Jamaat offered prayers for their forgiveness and extended deep condolences to their bereaved families.
Ameer-e-Jamaat had intended to deliver an important speech on several key issues. However, during the address, he suddenly fell ill, making it impossible for him to continue his remarks.
He intended to speak on the oppression under the Awami fascist misrule, the plight of persecuted expatriate brothers and sisters, the urgent need for a complete overhaul of the country’s education system, the contributions of remittance fighters (expatriates) and their right to vote, the importance of ensuring welfare and facilities for the underprivileged, and to deliver a meaningful message to the citizens of the country as well as to the leaders and activists of the organization.
Among the invited guests who delivered speeches at the national assembly were Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Secretary General Principal Hafiz Yunus Ahmad, Hefazat-e-Islam’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Mohiuddin Rabbani, NCP’s Member Secretary Mr. Akhtar Hossain, Khilafat Majlis’s Secretary General Dr. Ahmed Abdul Kader, Khilafat Andolan’s Ameer Abu Zafar Qasemi, Gono-Adhikar Parishad’s President Mr. Nurul Haque Nur, Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Presidium Member Professor Ashraf Ali Akanda, NCP’s Northern Region’s coordinator Sarjis Alam, Nezame Islam’s Secretary General Musa bin Izhar, National Hindu Grand Alliance’s Secretary General Dr. Gobinda Chandra Pramanik, Bangladesh Development Party’s President Advocate AKM Anwarul Islam, Khilafat Majlis’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Mujibur Rahman Hamidi, North South University student SM Mostafizur Rahman, JAGPA’s Vice President and Spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan, prominent media personality Dr. Faizul Haque, several members of martyr families, and some of the July uprising fighters.
From Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, those who delivered speeches included Central Executive Committee Member and veteran leader Mr. ATM Azharul Islam, Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Professor Mujibur Rahman, Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Secretary General and former MP Professor Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, former MP Dr. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Central Executive Committee Member and Dhaka City South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Central Executive Committee Member and Dhaka City North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin, Central Working Committee Member and Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Jasim Uddin Sarkar, Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir’s Central President Zahidul Islam, its Secretary General Nurul Islam Saddam, and Dhaka University Chhatra Shibir’s former President and a July warrior Sadiq Qayyum.
The program was jointly conducted by Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ahsanul Mahboob Zubair, Central Publicity and Media Secretary Advocate Matiur Rahman Akanda, Dhaka City South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, and Dhaka City North Secretary Dr. Rezaul Karim.
Also present at the assembly were Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer and former MP Maulana ANM Shamsul Islam, Assistant Secretary Generals Maulana ATM Masum, Maulana Abdul Halim, Advocate Moyazzem Hossain Helal, and Maulana Muhammad Shahjahan, as well as Central Executive Council Members Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Mr. Abdur Rob, Principal Md. Shahabuddin, Principal Md. Izzat Ullah, and Mr. Mobarak Hossain.
Secretary General of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Principal Hafiz Maulana Yunus Ahmad, said: “The 7-point demand of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is beneficial for the country. We fully support all seven demands. Youth will march forward under the banner of Islam, InshaAllah.”
Presidium Member of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Professor Ashraf Ali Akanda stated: “Awami League stands for destruction, curse, money laundering, and oppression. They have turned the country into a jungle. If the fascists return, no one’s back will remain unscathed. Across the world, 91 countries have implemented the Proportional Representation (PR) system. Yet one party here does not want PR.”
Mr. Akhtar Hossain, Member Secretary of the National Citizens’ Party (NCP), remarked: “Democracy cannot be protected through elections alone. Fundamental reforms are essential to safeguard it. We demand elections under the PR system. Those who oppose PR are deceiving the nation. Fascists have denied even the minimum rights to Muslims. People of all religions in this country must be able to live in peace.”
Mr. Sarjis Alam, Chief Organizer of NCP’s Northern Region, declared: “There will be no place for Mujibism in Bangladesh. The killer Hasina must be brought to justice. Indian hegemony has no place here. The judiciary must be independent. The Constitution of 1972 must be set aside. Women's rights and minority rights must be ensured. All anti-fascist forces must remain united. We must resist extortionists and terrorists.”
Mr. ATM Azharul Islam, Member of the Central Executive Council of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and a veteran people's leader, stated: “I was imprisoned by the oppressive regime for 14 years. They conspired to kill me by hanging. That is why I say: just as the country has newly earned its independence, I too have earned my freedom. By the will of Allah, Lord of the Worlds, I have been able to stand before thousands from the gallows platform. They planned to execute me. I now appeal to the interim government—our leaders were hanged and imprisoned and ultimately killed. Those who were responsible for such judicial murders, must be brought under the law and held accountable. What was their crime? Their only crime was that they stood with the people of this country and for Islam.”
He further said: “Who are on the run today? No leader or activist of Jamaat-e-Islami has fled. We have seen 54 years of Bangladesh. Yet there has been no real change in these 54 years. If the fate of 180 million people is to be transformed, the country must be governed according to the laws of the Qur'an. We want Allah’s law and righteous leadership.”
Professor Mujibur Rahman, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament, stated: “Wherever Islam resides, peace prevails. Where there is no Islam, peace cannot be sustained—there corruption takes root. Do you wish for your suffering and hardship to continue? If not, then only Islamic law must prevail in the parliament. Injustice must be resisted with strength. We want to resist injustice.”
Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said: “Jamaat-e-Islami is a party beloved by the people of this country. It is a party of men and women of all religions and backgrounds. Jamaat-e-Islami has always stood against extremism and militancy. The struggle of Jamaat for the interest of the people will continue.”
Secretary General of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former Member of Parliament Professor Mia Golam Porwar said: “The Awami League government has executed Jamaat leaders by hanging. Elderly leaders of Jamaat were imprisoned and slowly killed inside jail cells. After the July revolution, following the instruction of the Ameer-e-Jamaat, the party stood beside the martyrs, beside the minorities. We want to establish a welfare state.” He called upon everyone to come together in unity.
On behalf of the organization, gratitude was extended to journalists, law enforcement agencies, the electricity department, Dhaka WASA, and all others who cooperated in making the assembly a success. Special thanks were also expressed to the residents of Dhaka for their support and patience during the assembly, despite the inconvenience it may have caused.
