Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Thursday warned that if fascism re-emerges in the country under a "new guise," it would face the same fate as on August 5.
He made the remarks while delivering maiden campaign speech in the election rally for the Dhaka-15 constituency on Adarsha High School ground in Mirpur on Thursday afternoon.
"We do not want to see even the shadow of fascism in this country," Dr Shafiqur Rahman said. "If fascism appears before us today wearing a new outfit, it will meet the same consequences as August 5. Our current position has come at the cost of immense sacrifice and struggle."
Addressing the youth, the Jamaat chief said his party would stand with those who can ensure justice and accountability. "We will be with those who can restrain their own activists from extortion, land grabbing, filing false cases, terrorism, killing people by crushing them under stones or vehicles. Those who fail to do so-no matter how colourful their dreams may be-the nation will understand their real intentions," he said.
Referring to the past, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said those who had established fascism are no longer visible, which he described as a source of relief. He urged those who suffered during periods of authoritarian rule not to inflict similar suffering on the people again. "During the era of fascism, both you and we endured immense pain. Please do not allow the people to suffer that pain again," he said.
He further alleged that inequality, misrule and corruption in society stem from the absence of justice. "If there had been justice in the country, corrupt individuals, looters and plunderers would not have been able to loot banks and flee abroad safely. They would not have built 'Begum Para' overseas or established a reign of terror in Bangladesh. Black money is used to buy more terror to generate even more black money," he added.
The rally marked the formal start of Dr Shafiq's election campaign for the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad election. His campaign was officially launched through the public meeting held at around 2:30pm at Mirpur-10's Adarsha High School in his constituency, Dhaka-15 (Mirpur-Kafrul).
From early morning, thousands of supporters began arriving at the venue carrying banners, festoons and the party's scale symbol, joining processions from different parts of the area. The venue was filled to capacity well before noon, with slogans echoing across the ground. A festive and enthusiastic atmosphere was observed across Mirpur surrounding the rally.
Several political leaders were present as special guests at the rally, including National Citizen Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam, Jagpa co-vice president and spokesperson Engineer Rashed Pradhan, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Advocate Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, central executive council member and Dhaka-12 Jamaat candidate Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Mobarak Hossain, former Islami Chhatra Shibir president Zahidur Rahman, Dhaka-14 candidate Barrister Mir Ahmed bin Qasem, Dhaka-16 candidate Colonel (retd) Abdul Baten, and Dhaka-17 candidate Dr SM Khaliduzzaman, among others.
