No one will be spared if people’s rights are undermined: Jamaat Ameer

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday warned that no one would be spared if people’s rights were undermined.

“If any obstacle comes our way, we will fight it and reach our destination. We will not spare anyone who plays games with the rights of the people,” he said.

He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural rally of the 11-party alliance’s long march from Dhaka to Chattogram at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel at 7am.

The alliance organised the programme to press for the implementation of its six-point demands, including the implementation of the referendum verdict and the trial of the July mass killings.

Shafiqur said, “We have not taken to the streets for any party, individual or group. We have taken to the streets on behalf of the 18 crore people of Bangladesh.”

He said the programme was aimed at realising the people’s demands.

Announcing that another demand would be added to the existing six, the Jamaat chief said, “We will not tolerate the existence of extortionists and corrupt people in Bangladesh.”

Referring to people’s frustration over various crises, he said, “People are suffering because of extortionists. Their rights are being looted by corrupt people. There is no gas, no water and no electricity, but gas bills are being issued as usual. There are also exorbitant electricity bills.”

Referring to a young man named Sifat, Shafiqur said the youth had protested out of frustration. Although he did not support the language used by Sifat, he said 180 million people in Bangladesh would, if necessary, “roar like Sifat” in protest against such issues.

Calling for Sifat to be released, he said, “Release him. Release him peacefully. If you do not, remember that one Nur Hossain, one Yasmin and one Dr Milon turned the tables on many in power. No one can say when a rotten snail may cut one’s foot.”

On the long march, Shafiqur said the programme had begun to fulfil the commitment to realise the people’s demands and that its “actions and reactions” had already started.

“You are saying that if we do this or that, there will be no concessions. We are making it clear that if you play games with the rights of the people, the people will also not spare anyone,” he said.

Before the long march set off for Chattogram, the Jamaat chief said they had taken to the streets to fight any obstacles on the way.

“We have taken to the streets to secure the rights of the people. InshaAllah, we will reach our destination and will not care about any obstacle,” he said.

Declaring that the movement would continue until people’s rights were established, Shafiqur said, “We have taken to the streets for the people and, InshaAllah, we will return home only after securing their rights. Our movement will continue on the streets and highways and in parliament. In parallel, it will continue until every right of the 180 million people is established.”

At the end of his speech, Shafiqur pledged to continue the 11-party alliance’s movement in unity.

“We will move forward together with firm steps, putting our trust in Almighty Allah, and through our united movement, we will secure the rights and demands of the people, InshaAllah,” he said.