Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today said the aspirations of the people had remained unfulfilled through the last 12 national elections, which he described as tools for sustaining an outdated and exploitative political system.
“The upcoming election on February 12 would be fundamentally different from previous polls,” he said addressing an election rally at the Pirojpur Government High School ground in the afternoon.
“This election is meant to change the system. It is an election to awaken a new Bangladesh,” Shafiqur Rahman said, adding that the past elections had been used to exploit, loot and exhaust the country.
He said the February 12 vote aimed to fulfil the aspirations of the youth, ensure dignity, peace and security for women, create a safe environment for children, and realise the hopes of blacksmiths, potters, weavers, fishermen, boatmen, labourers and farmers.
“Tk 28 lakh crore had been siphoned abroad over the past 15 and a half years. The coming election is crucial for recovering the laundered money and ensuring balanced development across Bangladesh,” he added.
“If Jamaat comes to power, development will be carried out on the basis of Insaf (justice),” he said.
Rejecting the practice of offering unemployment allowances to youths, he said, “Dignified employment will be ensured. No one will be humiliated by being given unemployment benefits,” he added.
Shafiqur Rahman said employment opportunities would be provided on merit, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender or class, although salaries would differ based on risk and qualifications.
Criticising both the Awami League and BNP, he said past promises of rice at Tk 10 per kg and recent card-based distributions amounted to misleading the public.
He further alleged that in various parts of the country women were being threatened and subjected to humiliation, but that no action had been taken by the concerned parties, which, he claimed, implied tacit approval.
He said voters would show a red card to extortionists, the corrupt and agents of authoritarianism through their ballots on February 12.
The Jamaat chief also promised justice for killings, including those of Sharif Osman Hadi, Abrar Fahad, Mir Mugdho and others, if his party came to power.
He reiterated that looted money would be recovered and spent on national development to ensure equitable progress.
Shafiqur Rahman cautioned that Jamaat would not remain silent if any attempt was made at vote rigging or election engineering, regardless of the power of those involved, and urged people to start guarding polling stations to protect votes.
Earlier in the day, addressing another rally at the Jhalakathi Boys’ High School ground, he said youths had taken to the streets demanding change and February 12 would be the decisive moment of that transformation.
He urged voters to ensure victory for candidates nominated by the Jamaat-led bloc.
