Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman has said he will strongly oppose any move to increase the financial benefits of the president, prime minister, ministers or MPs while the people are struggling with a range of economic difficulties.
“Society as a whole is going through a crisis. There is no question of us, the MPs, increasing our own benefits,” he said.
The government should remain cautious and refrain from taking any such initiative, Shafiqur said, claiming that efforts were being made by a section to increase such benefits following the announcement of a new pay scale.
He was speaking at a meeting with Jamaat beat journalists at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on Wednesday.
“We became MPs to serve the needs of the people, not to become MPs in exchange for a salary,” he said. “If the financial condition of the 18 crore people improves, we will have no objection to sharing in that improvement.”
Shafiqur also expressed concern over the state of the country’s industrial sector, particularly the readymade garment industry.
He said a decline in production could put industries under pressure and lead to layoffs, affecting not only workers but their families as well.
“When one person falls into trouble, an entire family falls into trouble,” he said, referring to the possible impact on children’s education, food and healthcare.
He urged the media to report such issues accurately, saying public interests could not be protected unless facts were presented as facts.
Criticising the recent increase in fuel prices, Shafiqur said a Tk20 increase in the price of a litre of fuel would affect much more than vehicle owners.
Higher fuel costs would increase transport expenses and the cost of carrying goods, eventually pushing up prices in the market, he said.
He pointed to people who take up motorcycle ride-sharing after their regular jobs to supplement their income, saying they would directly feel the impact of the price hike.
He also questioned comparisons between Bangladesh and neighbouring countries over fuel prices, asking whether their economic conditions were comparable.
No government plots or duty-free cars, he says
Shafiqur reiterated that Jamaat MPs would not accept government plots or take advantage of the duty-free car facility available to lawmakers.
He said the party had made the commitments before its candidates were elected and had remained firm on them.
“We said we would not take government plots. MPs have the opportunity to buy cars without paying duties, but we will not take that facility either. We have kept our word,” he said.
He also welcomed the ruling party’s decision to follow the same policy.
“We did not go to parliament to build our own fortunes. Whether in the government or the opposition, everyone has said, ‘I am not a ruler, I want to be a servant.’ If so, why should there be a ruler’s mentality? There should be the mentality of a servant,” he said.
Complains of notices being ignored
The opposition leader also alleged that notices submitted by his party on several public-interest issues were not being brought up for discussion in parliament.
He said notices had been submitted on fuel, fertiliser, electricity, law and order, violence against children and the rising prices of essential commodities.
Referring to a previous notice concerning the fuel crisis, Shafiqur said a 10-member committee, comprising five government and five opposition lawmakers, had been formed following the notice.
The committee’s formation helped ease public anxiety over the crisis, he claimed.
Rejects allegations over long march
Shafiqur also rejected criticism surrounding Jamaat’s recent long-march programmes, saying the party had conducted them peacefully and in a disciplined manner.
“If anyone created a climate of panic to disrupt our programme, they will be responsible for it,” he said.
Rejecting allegations that his party could have been behind incidents of vehicle fires and cocktail explosions ahead of its programmes, he said such acts would make no sense.
“I will hold a long march tomorrow, and set off cocktails and burn buses today? Even a madman would not do that. I would want my programme to succeed,” he said.
Warns media against selective reporting
On the role of the media, Shafiqur urged journalists to present statements in their proper context.
He alleged that parts of his interviews were sometimes taken out of context and used in social-media “photocards”, which he said could confuse the public.
“An interview is presented differently in the photocards. It is misleading. A cut-piece has no head or tail; only the middle is presented,” he said.
He also urged journalists to report any unfair treatment of media outlets, saying such reports could provide political parties with a reference when raising the issues.
Describing the media as the “fourth pillar” of the state, Shafiqur said a functioning media was essential to ensuring accountability.
He also called for better understanding between media owners and journalists and said he would raise issues concerning journalists’ salaries, bonuses and other rights inside and outside parliament.
He urged journalists to submit their concerns through their professional organisations so that the issues could be raised in parliament and elsewhere.
Shafiqur said he had travelled to several countries since becoming opposition leader but had not undertaken the trips at government expense. He said he did not want to put additional pressure on public finances.
Regarding the government residence allocated for his use, he said it had not been permanently given to him but was made available for carrying out his responsibilities as opposition leader.
He said he holds meetings there with diplomats, businesspeople, organisations and media representatives.
Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer ATM Azharul Islam, Assistant Secretary General ATM Ma’sum, Abdul Halim, Rafiqul Islam Khan, AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Central Executive Council member Saiful Islam Khan Milon, Mobarak Hossain, Moazzam Hossain Helal and Dhaka South city Jamaat Secretary Shafiqul Islam Masud were among those present at the meeting, along with other senior party leaders.
