Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has once again offered an unconditional apology for any harm or suffering caused by the party, not only in 1971 but also from 1947 onwards.
“We have so far apologised at least thrice,” said Shafiqur during an interaction with journalists in New York on Wednesday. He said that once Ghulam Azam offered an apology, then Motiur Rahman Nizami, and more recently, Shafiqur himself had done so.
“How can we say that we haven’t made any mistakes until today? We are human, and our organisation is human-centric,” he said. “Out of our hundred decisions, 99 might be correct, but one could be wrong. That one wrong decision might harm the nation. So, if any of our decisions have harmed the nation, wherever any harm has occurred, we are asking for forgiveness.”
He further said after asking for forgiveness, if someone insists that it must be done in this language or that – this is another “pain”.
“I asked for unconditional forgiveness, didn’t set any conditions, and then what’s left to argue about? I don’t understand that,” he continued.
Dr Shafiqur added, “Today, I am openly declaring that from 1947 to 22 October 2025, if anyone has suffered because of us, we ask for forgiveness without any conditions.”
Abdul Latif Masum, a retired professor of the Department of Government and Politics at Jahangirnagar University and a political analyst, said, “Undoubtedly, the Jamaat ameer’s apology is a positive step. Because, without interpreting it from a party perspective, history should be explained in a general way.
“Just as there is no room to ignore 1947, similarly, 1971 is of special importance for the nation. Because in 1971, we gained an independent country. Now, those who only talk about 2024 must keep in mind that without 1971, we wouldn’t have had 2024. The Jamaat ameer’s statement on the continuity of history is positive.”
On 27 May, after the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam and acquitted him, Shafiqur Rahman held an emergency press conference at the Diploma Engineers Institute in Kakrail. There, too, he unconditionally apologised for the party’s previous mistakes.
Shafiqur mentioned that there is no uncertainty regarding the upcoming election before Ramadan in February next year. He also commented that if Jamaat comes to power, minorities will live peacefully according to their constitutional rights.
Regarding relations with India, Shafiqur said Jamaat expects a relationship with India based on equality.
