Jamaat Ameer Calls for Strict Morals, Challenges Government Policies
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman recently urged party members to be highly careful about their conduct. He said any wrongdoing by a member becomes very visible and reflects on the party. Mr. Rahman stressed that Jamaat-e-Islami does not compromise on moral principles.
He explained that minor mistakes by members would allow a chance to improve. However, the party would take strong action against serious misconduct. Shafiqur Rahman made these comments at a party conference in Dhaka on Friday. The event was for members (Rukon) of the party’s Dhaka district unit.
Shafiqur Rahman told party members that Jamaat-e-Islami is made of human beings, not angels. He said humans can make mistakes. But he clearly stated that bad actions and Jamaat-e-Islami do not go together. He asked people to point out any wrongdoing by the party. He promised that Jamaat would correct itself.
The Jamaat chief also criticised the country’s Home Minister. He asked the minister to focus on his own department. Mr. Rahman said the Home Minister seemed to be an expert on everything except his own ministry. He suggested that each minister should perform their own duties. He said there was no need for the Home Minister to do the Prime Minister’s job. He urged the minister to focus on his own ministry for the nation’s peace.
Shafiqur Rahman claimed that bribery, corruption, and extortion were hurting investment in Bangladesh. He spoke about a recent remark from another official. This official reportedly said it was impossible to stop extortion in Bangladesh. Mr. Rahman questioned if extortion had become official. He alleged that those making such statements were themselves involved in extortion. He added that political will could stop extortion, but without it, it would continue.
The Jamaat leader also said that the spirit of Bangladesh’s mass uprising was inspiring people globally. But he noted that Jamaat did not want to interfere in other countries’ affairs. He believes people in every country should decide their own future. Similarly, he said, no other country should interfere in Bangladesh’s matters. He also mentioned border peace, saying disruption there would affect others too.
Shafiqur Rahman also spoke about the ongoing debate over the Constitution. He warned against changing it too much. He claimed that the people had asked for constitutional reform, not just amendments. He suggested that if the government only made self-serving amendments, Jamaat would not accept them.
He said it was difficult to know the exact number of people killed in the July mass uprising. He stated that many deaths happened between August 3 and August 5. The United Nations estimated 1,452 deaths. Other figures were around 2,000 or more. He noted that the internet shutdown at the time made it hard to get full numbers. Jamaat is creating its own list of those killed.
The Jamaat chief also criticised the government’s support for those injured in the uprising. He said no government representative had visited injured people getting treatment in Thailand. He also criticised the government for not increasing payments to victims’ families. He called for a separate budget for their treatment and rehabilitation.
Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Dhaka district Jamaat Ameer, chaired the conference. Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan also spoke. Central executive council member Saiful Alam Khan (Milon) attended as a special guest.
