Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said the people of Bangladesh no longer support “old and decayed” politics centred on families, individuals or vested groups.
Speaking at an election rally at the Circuit House ground in Mymensingh, Dr Shafiqur called for a government “truly run by the people”.
Jamaat-e-Islami and the 11-party alliance jointly organized the rally.
Dr Shafiqur said people were increasingly rejecting partisan politics and aspiring for a Bangladesh founded on justice and fairness. “People want an Insaaf-based Bangladesh where governance is rooted in truth and equity.”
He alleged that following August 5, certain groups had engaged in extortion, harassed ordinary people through case trading, and shielded corrupt individuals and loan defaulters.
Referring to the upcoming election, the Jamaat leader claimed voters had already decided to support candidates who are “tested, known and proven”, and who stand for justice, truth and fairness.
He said this political wave was visible not only in Mymensingh but across the country, noting that young people in particular were rejecting opportunistic politics.
“Young people do not want trickery or profiteering politics. They do not want politics based on cards or unemployment allowances. They want a new Bangladesh,” he said, describing the vision as reflecting the aspirations of 2024.
Dr Shafiqur questioned whether the nation wanted to return to a political system that had prevailed over the past 77 years, insisting that citizens of all ages were seeking change.
He also alleged that Tk28 lakh crore had been siphoned off from Bangladesh to foreign countries, an amount he said was four times the annual national budget.
“We will use all our strength to recover these funds. No relatives or close associates will be spared. Those who have stolen the nation’s wealth and live abroad in luxury will be brought to justice,” he said.
The rally was presided over by Mymensingh city Jamaat Ameer Kamrul Ahsan Emrul, who introduced candidates from 11 constituencies of Mymensingh and five constituencies of the Netrokona district.