Jammat-e-Islami amir Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday said that his party was against taking revenge for its long suffering in the past.

He also stated that his party’s main goal was to build a united and prosperous state.

The Jamaat amir’s statement came in his chief guest’s address at an election rally at the Sylhet Government Alia Madrassah ground in the city in the afternoon.

Emphasising national unity, Shafiqur said that Bangladesh must not be allowed to be divided and  his party’s main goal was to build a united and developed state. 

Shafiqur further said that Bangladesh was repressed in the past 54 years since independence that did not spare anyone, from clerics to students, teachers and day-labourers. 

Stating that Jamaat-e-Islami was the most oppressed party after independence, Shafiqur said that his party’s top leaders were killed, the party itself was banned with its registration cancelled.

‘After August 5, we did not take any revenge…we do not believe in the politics of revenge,’ the Jamaat amir said at the programme.

Those who had suffered long under oppression should not turn oppressors themselves after coming to power, he stated, adding that his party was politically committed against vengeance.

Highlighting the current chaotic situation in the country, the Jamaat amir declared ‘a war against drugs, extortion and misdeeds’ in society.

‘If we are voted to power, no one will be able to extort, no one will be allowed to commit corruption at government offices,’ he declared.

‘Those who have embezzled public money will not be left unpunished and steps will be taken to bring that money back to the state treasury,’ said Shafiqur.

Regarding the voting rights of expatriates, Shafiqur said that ‘all expatriates will be provided gradually the voting right.’

‘Even if an expatriate dies before earning, the government will take responsibility for his family,’ he added.

Regarding the environmental development, the Jamaat amir said that the country must be turned into a river-friendly state and the lifeline of the rivers must be restored.

Talking about the problems of the long-neglected haor areas, he said that steps would be taken to protect the ecology and livelihood of the people of the region.

The ongoing crisis of the tea gardens and the sector would also be resolved through practical development plans, he further said.

‘Give a chance to our party. We promise that if Jamaat-e-Islami is voted to power, we will protect your wealth and lives at any crisis moment,’ he vowed.

Jamat central and local leaders also addressed the rally, with its Sylhet metropolitan unit president Fakhrul Islam in chair.

Earlier on the day, the Jamaat amir addressed election rallies at different places, including Madhabpur in Habiganj, on his way to Sylhet from Dhaka.