Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman today warned that fascism remains a persistent threat, likening it to a disease that spreads even after one figure falls.

“Fascism is a disease. Even if a particular patient dies, it cannot be said that fascism has died. It spreads from one person to another, and we are already witnessing that transmission,” he said at a rally of Dhaka district Jamaat in Keraniganj today.

He further said, “Ignoring, insulting, and outright denying the people’s mandate marks the very beginning of fascism. We do not want fascism in this country anymore.”

Speaking about constitutional reform, he said what is needed is not mere “amendment” -- likened to patching up an old, torn garment -- but meaningful “reform” that removes fundamental flaws. “One option is to stitch together a torn old garment and wear it. The other is to discard the torn parts and wear a new one. We do not want to put that patched-up garment back on the nation,” he said.

“This constitution has been amended time and again. How did fascism emerge despite so many amendments?” he asked. He argued that the provisions responsible for enabling fascism must be “banished” from the constitution through reform.

He criticised the ruling party for favouring amendment over reform.

Blaming the government for creating the current “crisis”, Shafiqur said it failed to take a responsible role in convening the Constitution Reform Council.

“We took two oaths, you took one. It was your responsibility to request the competent authority to convene the reform council. You only asked for a parliamentary session, not for the reform council. You have failed in your responsibilities and broken your commitment to the people,” he said.

He added that there is still time for a resolution, and it could be achieved in parliament if the government wishes. “We wanted a solution inside parliament. You did not take that opportunity,” he said, adding that the government is forcing them to take to the streets once more.

“The people who, with bare hands, confronted armed criminals and brought change are still alive and well,” he said, urging the youth to “sharpen once again the tools of revolution”.

He warned that the movement would continue until their demands are met and that they would return to the streets, if necessary.

Clarifying his party’s stance on the constitution, he said they have never called for scrapping it altogether.

“We have said we want reform, not that we want to throw it away. False allegations have been made against us,” he said.