Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has reminded the public of Jamaat-e-Islami’s controversial role during the 1971 Liberation War and the 1986 elections held under the Ershad regime.
He made these remarks on Wednesday while addressing a rally at the Moulvibazar Government High School field during a one-day visit to the district. Notably, Moulvibazar is the home district of Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman.
Responding to opposition statements that the government should not be given more time, the prime minister asked the audience, “There are many elders here. Do you remember what they [Jamaat] did in ’71? Do you remember what they did in ’86?”
Historical context and the movement
It should be noted that Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned for taking up arms for Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War, participated for the first time under its party symbol in the third parliamentary elections in 1986 during the rule of military dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad.
That election was boycotted by BNP.
During his speech, Tarique also criticised Jamaat’s absence during recent political struggles, stating, “We did not see them anywhere during the movement that lasted for a decade.”
Regarding the 2024 mass uprising, the prime minister pointed out that the lists of martyrs and victims are dominated by BNP affiliates.
“If a list of martyrs is prepared, it will be seen that the student who died was a worker of Chhatra Dal; the student whose wife died was a Chhatra Dal worker; the youth who died or was disappeared was a Jubo Dal worker,” he said.
Tarique added that those who suffered in jail or faced years of false cases would, upon investigation, be found to be followers of Shaheed Zia and Khaleda Zia.
A five-year mandate
Tarique cautioned the public against those threatening to oust the government, reminding them that the people have given the BNP a mandate to run the country for five years.
“Those who speak against the people’s mandate and say the BNP cannot be given time are not speaking for the people’s interest; they are speaking for their own,” he said. He stated that the country’s security, development, and future have been entrusted to the hands of the people.
Welfare and Development Activities During his visit, Tarique distributed Family Cards among ten marginalised women in Moulvibazar. He also inaugurated the distribution of Family Cards for 19 wards in the district and 21 other districts via an online programme.
Earlier in the day, Tarique planted mango and neem saplings at the Government High School field in Moulvibazar, and jam and krishnachura saplings at the Victoria High School field in Sreemangal.
At the Moulvibazar event, he also handed over cheques for one-time financial grants to the destitute, disabled, and marginalised people, alongside providing housing for tea workers and scholarships for their children.
Response to funding concerns
Addressing critics who ask where the money for Family Cards will come from, Tarique pointed to the previous administration’s record.
“For the last decade, the whole world has witnessed how the country’s wealth was laundered abroad. From now on, with the people of Bangladesh, we will stop that laundering. This is our answer to those who ask where will we get the money,” he added.
Tarique emphasised the need for national productivity, stating that the “400 million hands” of the country’s 200 million people must not remain idle if the nation’s fortune is to be changed. During his speech, he also remembered the late finance minister M Saifur Rahman.
