CHOUGACHHA, Jashore — A.T.M. Azharul Islam, central naib-e-amir of Jamaat-e-Islami, said his party would first work to free the country from corruption if it gets the opportunity to govern.
“This country is not a poor country, it is a rich country,” Azharul Islam said. “What this country lacks is leaders of character. That is why thousands of crores of taka have been smuggled out.”
He spoke Sunday afternoon at a large public gathering organized by the Chougachha upazila unit of Jamaat in Jashore.
Speaking as chief guest at the rally at Chougachha Government Shahadat Pilot Secondary School grounds, presided over by upazila Jamaat amir Maulana Golam Morshed, he said: “I was sentenced to death in false cases by the fascist government. I was sentenced to death not in one but in three false cases. I was freed after the 2024 movement, which many call the second independence.”
“Many ask, what proof is there that Jamaat will not engage in corruption if it comes to power? Our two ministers ran three ministries, and no one could find any proof of corruption there,” he said. “If we come to power, we will eliminate unemployment within three to five years. It is possible to collect 50,000 crore taka in zakat each year. With that money, the country’s development will be carried out through a zakat-based economy.”
Azharul Islam said allegations that Jamaat will convert non-Muslims to Islam are baseless. “During the Awami League era, attacks on temples were blamed on Jamaat-Shibir. But over the past two years, Jamaat-Shibir workers have guarded temples. Our Hindu brothers have safely completed their religious rituals.”
He said many leaders abroad are afraid to return home because they have acquired British citizenship. “They have to give up citizenship and return. They are afraid, what if they give up citizenship and cannot become a safe prime minister back home? They lose on both sides. They don’t have the courage to come. But this brother of ours [Jashore-2 candidate Mosleh Uddin Farid], unbelievably, lived such a beautiful life for 30 years. He had the opportunity to earn more. He had the opportunity to rise to international heights. But after hearing the call of the Jamaat amir, he obeyed and gave up all the worldly comforts to stand by you. Can you not stand by him?”
“A wave of the scales [Jamaat’s election symbol] has risen across the country. Fearing this wave, others are trying to attack us,” he said. “We make it clear: we will not attack anyone. But if anyone comes to attack us, our workers will not spare them either.”
Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Jashore-2 (Chougachha-Jhikargachha), a pediatric heart specialist and former president of Islami Chhatra Shibir at Dhaka Medical College, spoke as the main speaker.
Mobarak Hossain, central executive committee member and Jashore-Kushtia regional director, and Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South, attended as special guests. The meeting was jointly conducted by upazila Jamaat secretary and assistant professor Nurunnaman Al Mamun, assistant secretary Master Kamal Ahmed Biswas and Maulana Gias Uddin.
“Only Islam can protect the independence and sovereignty of this country,” Mobarak Hossain said.
“A party whose workers kill their own member during prayers has no qualification to do politics,” Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud said. “Fifty-four years have passed since independence. After seeing party after party, symbol after symbol for 54 years, we are tired. This time the call must be: the land belongs to whoever owns it, the law to whoever owns it. All parties have been seen, now Bangladesh of Islam. All have been seen repeatedly, this time Islam.”
Dr. Mosleh Uddin Farid said if Jamaat comes to power, women will work five hours and receive eight hours’ pay, with the government providing subsidies. “We will build a country free of extortion,” he said.
Other speakers included Dr. Imdadul Haque, director of Jashore Ad-Deen Hospital; Maulana Azizur Rahman, central working committee member and Jashore-1 (Sharsha) parliamentary candidate; Advocate Gazi Enamul Haque, Jashore-5 (Manirampur) parliamentary candidate; Professor Golam Rasul, Jashore district amir and Jashore-4 (Abhaynagar-Bagherpara) parliamentary candidate; district naib-e-amir Maulana Habibur Rahman; DUCSU sports secretary Arman Hossain; Jashore district Jamaat secretary Principal Abu Jafar Siddiqui; Professor Matiar Rahman, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Jhenaidah-3 (Mahespur-Kotchandpur); Maulana Abu Taleb, Jamaat-nominated parliamentary candidate for Jhenaidah-4 (Kaliganj); Sharsha upazila amir Vice Principal Faruk Hasan; Jhikargachha upazila Jamaat amir Maulana Abdul Alim; Dhaka Metropolitan South Majlish-e-Shura member Maulana Hafizur Rahman; upazila Jamaat naib-e-amir Maulana Nurul Islam; Chougachha Kamil Madrasa Mosque khatib Maulana Ali Akbar; upazila Jamaat assistant secretary Master Rahidul Islam Khan; Chougachha municipal Jamaat amir Maulana Abdul Khaleq; and Md. Abu Sayeed, president of the Chougachha Adarsha Sathi unit of Chhatra Shibir.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report