Says Jamaat ameer

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said people no longer want "old, rotten, and foul politics" and are seeking a change.

"They want to see a 'New Bangladesh'. And a 'New Bangladesh' cannot run on old formulas," he told a rally at the BRP ground in Dhaka's Bhashantek area.

Speaking as chief guest at the event organised in support of SM Khaliduzzaman, Jamaat's nominee for Dhaka-17, Shafiqur said people do not want to see any partisan government in the future. "They want a people's government -- one in which every official prioritises public interest over personal gains."

Referring to the July uprising, he said, "A great deal of blood and lives were sacrificed for change. People hoped fascism would leave this land forever. Sadly, it has not. A section of the fascists may have left, but fascism still remains."

He cited corruption, extortion, land grabbing, disrespect for women and attempts to destabilise the country as signs of persisting fascism.

On the national election, he said, "If people choose us, we will call upon all political parties and forces to stand with us. We will build the country together.

"Some have said if they are elected, they will form a government with all anti-fascist parties except Jamaat-e-Islami. We say to them: if the people elect us, we will not exclude you. We will build the country together with everyone."

He also claimed propaganda was being spread that Jamaat would confine women if it came to power. "We will respond to all such propaganda through our actions, not words. The days of misleading people with lies are over," he said.

"Every citizen has the freedom to practise any religious belief. There will be no coercion. In the next election, some of our candidates will be from minority communities. We want to bring the nation on a platform of unity through this," he said.