Bangladesh’s relations with India must be based on friendship, equality and mutual respect, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Shafiqur Rahman said on Friday.
“The people of Bangladesh will no longer accept anyone’s domination,” he said while addressing a members’ (Rukon) conference organised by Jamaat’s Rajshahi city unit at the Rajshahi District Council auditorium on Friday afternoon.
Shafiqur Rahman said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman could visit any country, including neighbouring India, but such visits should be conducted on the basis of equality, mutual respect and friendship.
“Bangladesh’s relations with India will be based on friendship, equality and mutual respect,” he said.
He also criticised the government over extortion, corruption and bribery, saying the prime minister, who also serves as the head of his party, has the authority to take action against such practices.
“If he wants, he can stop extortion, corruption and bribery. The question is whether he wants to,” Shafiqur Rahman said.
Addressing Jamaat leaders and activists, he said the party had earned public trust as an ideological organisation through its longstanding efforts to spread the message of Islam and work towards an ideal society and state.
On the upcoming local government elections, he urged party activists to stand by the people and help safeguard their voting rights.
“No one should be allowed to snatch people’s votes,” he said, urging Jamaat workers to remain vigilant.
The conference was chaired by Rajshahi city Jamaat Ameer Maulana Keramat Ali and moderated by its secretary Imaz Uddin Mondal.
Jamaat Central Naib-e-Ameer and Rajshahi-1 lawmaker Mujibur Rahman attended as a special guest. Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan MP, Dhaka South City unit Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul MP, Rajshahi regional assistant director Rafiqul Islam, Central Working Committee member Nazrul Islam and Rajshahi district Jamaat Ameer Professor Abdul Khaleque also addressed the conference.
More than 1,000 Jamaat members, known as Rukon, attended the event.
