Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has issued a stern warning to party members to remain vigilant.
Amid growing criticism over a video purportedly showing Member of Parliament Gazi Nazrul Islam in an intimate moment with a young woman, along with claims that the two are married, Shafiqur warned his party members.
Speaking at a conference of the party’s Rukons (members) in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Friday, Shafiqur emphasised the need for moral integrity through a metaphor.
“I would tell my colleagues, if you have white cloth on your body, you must be careful,” he said. “The common saying that white cloth gets stained easily is not true; rather, stains on white cloth are more visible. Be very careful,” he added.
Shafiqur characterised the efforts of party members as a “war” against Satan. He urged followers to be mindful of the “deception of the nafs (self)” and the “whispers of Satan,” stressing the importance of fearing Allah. He noted that since the dawn of humanity, Satan has been dedicated to causing harm, particularly targeting believers.
“Will Satan leave us alone?” he asked the audience. “He pursues those who believe more aggressively. For those outside the faith who do not accept Allah or His laws, Satan has little left to do. He targets those who wish to follow.”
Shafiqur clarified that Jamaat-e-Islami does not claim to be a “party of angels.” “We are human; we also make mistakes,” he admitted, while asserting that wrongdoing and the values of Jamaat-e-Islami cannot coexist.
Regarding internal discipline, Shafiqur indicated that the party is prepared to take “tough decisions” to ensure accountability
He explained that while the organisation would attempt to rectify “tolerable violations” and allow members to continue their duties, there would be no leniency for severe infractions.
“If the degree of violation is heavy, we will have nothing to do,” he warned.
In a move towards transparency, the Jamaat leader invited those who love the nation to monitor the party’s actions closely. “If you see us committing a crime, point it out to us,” Rahman urged. “We promise that we will rectify it.”
