Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said his party is “not a party of angels”, acknowledging that its leaders and activists can make mistakes.

“We are human beings, and we make mistakes. We have made it clear that wrongdoing and Jamaat-e-Islami cannot go together. But that does not mean we never do anything wrong. We make mistakes, we commit offences and crimes,” he said.

He made the remarks this morning while addressing the Dhaka district Jamaat-e-Islami’s half-yearly members’ (Rukon) conference as the chief guest at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium.

He said the party has called on those who love the country and the nation to report any wrongdoing or offence committed by its members.

“We promise that we will correct it,” he said.

On Wednesday, amid widespread discussion following the circulation of a video on social media, Jamaat-e-Islami expelled Satkhira-4 MP Gazi Nazrul Islam from the party.

The party said the decision was taken at an emergency meeting of its central executive council after investigation found evidence of “moral misconduct” against him. It later formally informed the Election Commission of the decision.

In yesterday’s speech, Shafiqur urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant, saying that those in responsible positions within the party must be even more careful.

“There is no compromise in Jamaat-e-Islami when it comes to morality. If someone’s lapse remains within a tolerable limit, we will try to reform them and give them the opportunity to continue their responsibilities. But if the offence is serious, there will be nothing we can do. We will have to take action,” he said.

Shafiqur also asked party members to remain alert.

“All of us, including myself, must stay vigilant. Satan will spare no one. Since the beginning of humanity, Satan has sought to lead people astray, and he is even more relentless in targeting faithful Muslims,” he said.