Mia Golam Parwar, secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has said the party’s chief (ameer) and leader of the opposition, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, has assured people of the Hindu faith that he will stand by them in solving their problems.
He said this at a briefing on Wednesday afternoon (14 October) after a meeting between Dr Shafiqur Rahman and Hindu community leaders at the official residence at 29 Minto Road in the capital.
Leaders of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, the Puja Udjapan Front, the Jatiya Hindu Mahajote, the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust and many other organisations and bodies attended the meeting.
Golam Parwar said the Jamaat ameer had recalled a constitutional duty, not only as the leader of a political party but as Leader of the Opposition. “Just as it is the government’s responsibility to speak on the rights, security and all the interests of people of every religion in our beloved homeland of Bangladesh, it is also the constitutional duty of the leader of the opposition. He recalled that, and briefed them on the part he plays in it.”
He said the Hindu leaders praised the courageous and round-the-clock work of Jamaat-e-Islami activists in protecting Hindu religious events, pujas and temples, especially in the period after the July uprising of 5 August. At the meeting, the leaders spoke of some discrimination, deprivation, difficulties and hardship in various places, and asked for cooperation. “Our leader assured them that the government and the opposition will stand by them together and solve these problems. He assured them: we will hold more talks with you, listen more, and always be at your side in carrying out this duty and responsibility.”
At the briefing, the senior lawyer Subrata Chowdhury said: “On behalf of the Sanatan community I offer my heartfelt thanks and greetings for today’s invitation from Jamaat-e-Islami to the leaders of the Sanatan community to exchange greetings on the eve of the Durga Puja festival.”
“With the good beginning made at this meeting, the respected ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami and leader of the opposition today called on us all to work together in every social, political and economic activity in Bangladesh, regardless of party, opinion, religion or caste, to work as one for Bangladesh’s development, and to stand by one another in sympathy,” he said.
He said the Sanatan community was satisfied with the ameer’s reception and his remarks, and that Jamaat-e-Islami would play an important part in these matters in future.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report