Jamaat‑e‑Islami Ameer and opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman warned yesterday that the party would not remain silent if the government fails to act on reform proposals made in the wake of the July uprising.

“If the government takes initiative, we, as the opposition, will extend full cooperation. But if the government does not take initiative, then we will speak out on behalf of the people,” he said after launching the “Clean Dhaka, Green Dhaka” programme in his constituency in the Mirpur and Kafrul areas.

He said not taking the oath as a member of the Constitution Reform Council amounts to insulting July.

“It was the July uprising that made this election possible. Because of that election, Tarique Rahman became prime minister, and I became opposition leader. Without July, could we have reached these positions? Could we have gained this chance to serve?” Shafiqur asked.

He said the July uprising must be formally recognised and honoured, and that all reform proposals arising from the aspirations of the uprising should be implemented as a “sacred responsibility” of parliament.

“You know that yesterday we took two oaths, one as members of parliament and another as members of the Constitution Reform Council. We want to go to parliament and do something good for the country, In Sha Allah. And through reforms, we want to remove the garbage of society, from garbage on the streets, in drains and scattered waste, to the garbage in people’s minds,” he added.

The Jamaat ameer said his participation in yesterday’s cleanliness drive means giving a message to the people that the party will build a clean society.