Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday said India has invited almost every major political party in Bangladesh but has effectively shown a “red card” only to Jamaat-e-Islami.
He, however, said the party was not concerned by India’s position, asserting that Jamaat had no intention of seeking refuge in India because its support lay with the people of Bangladesh.
“Our shelter is in the hearts of 180 crore Bangladeshis. We have no need to seek refuge on Indian soil,” he said while addressing a discussion and prayer programme marking July Martyrs’ Day at the IDB Auditorium in Kakrail.
The event, organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South, commemorated Abu Sayeed and other martyrs of the July mass uprising.
Referring to the 2024 mass uprising, Shafiqur Rahman vowed to protect what he described as its achievements.
“By Allah, we will sacrifice our lives if necessary, but we will not allow the spirit of 2024 to be erased,” he said.
He claimed that attempts were underway to undermine the gains of the 2024 uprising.
While acknowledging the contributions of earlier democratic movements, he argued that the current parliament, government and the position of the opposition leader would not have come into existence without the events of 2024.
The Jamaat chief also criticised what he described as “irresponsible remarks” by several government ministers.
He alleged that issues raised by the opposition in parliament were often dismissed as being outside the legislature’s jurisdiction, while ministers continued to invoke incidents from the distant past to criticise opposition parties.
Speaking about the objectives of the July movement, he said it sought to establish a discrimination-free society, eliminate corruption and extortion, and ensure justice for all citizens. He alleged that those promises had yet to be translated into reality.
On constitutional reform, Shafiqur Rahman rejected claims that voters had failed to understand the four questions in the recent referendum, describing such remarks as an insult to the nation.
“The people cast their votes consciously, and there is no scope to disregard that verdict,” he said.
Questioning the formation of the Constitutional Reform Committee, he argued that the Constitution contains no provision for such a body. He alleged that the committee had been formed to sideline the spirit of the July movement and the outcome of the referendum.
He said Jamaat-e-Islami had staged a walkout in parliament in protest over the issue.
The programme was chaired by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka South Ameer Md Nurul Islam Bulbul and conducted by the organisation’s Dhaka South Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud.
