Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said his party would not “mortgage” the dignity of even an inch of the country’s land, vowing to stand firm against injustice even at the cost of lives.He said, “We are ready to bare our chests the way Abu Sayed and others did...We pledge that lives may be lost, but we will not bow our heads to wrongdoing."The Jamaat Ameer made the remarks on Saturday morning (January 24), after visiting the grave of Abu Sayed in Pirganj upazila in Rangpur.During the visit, Dr Shafiqur Rahman met Abu Sayed’s parents and other family members to offer condolences. Calling for appropriate punishment for those responsible for the killing, he told the family: “We will work to realise your child’s dream.”
Briefing reporters afterwards, the Jamaat leader said those he described as martyrs had entrusted the nation’s “legacy” to others through their sacrifices, and pledged to safeguard it “with our lives”.
He said their expectation was the creation of an independent Bangladesh free of corruption and discrimination and founded on justice, adding: “We have no dream of our own. Their dream is our dream. We will work to fulfil it.”
Dr Shafiqur Rahman also said the party had not abandoned people during “difficult crises” and would not do so in the future, adding: “Whatever the situation, we will stay with you.”
The grave visit marked the start of the second day of his tour, according to the party’s election campaign schedule. He is set to address rallies at 10:00 in Palashbari upazila in Gaibandha, at 12 noon in Bogura city, and at 2:30 pmin Sherpur upazila in Bogura.
He is then due to attend rallies at 3:30pm in Sirajganj city and at 16:00 in Ullapara upazila in Sirajganj, before concluding the day’s first-phase campaign with a scheduled rally in Pabna at 6:30pm.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman is campaigning in support of his party’s candidates and those of allied partners, and is expected to return to Dhaka by road after the Pabna event, according to a press release from Jamaat’s media cell.