Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday discussed a wide range of issues including reforms—electoral and banking sector, national unity, and consensus building efforts with Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus. “It was a one to one discussion in a friendly environment,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told the reporters at a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy this evening. Textbooks distribution to be completed by this month: CA’s DPS Azad  He said the interim government expects five out of six reform commissions to submit their reports by January 15 in line with the extended timeframe. The six commissions are the Electoral System Reform Commission headed by Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, the Police Administration Reform Commission headed by Sarfaraz Hossain, the Judiciary Reform Commission headed by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman, Anti-Corruption Reform Commission headed by TIB’s Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Public Administration Reform Commission headed by Abdul Mueed Chowdhury, and Constitution Reform Commission headed by Distinguished Prof at Illinois State University Dr Ali Riaz. Regarding the national election, Press Secretary Alam referred to what Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said earlier. The chief adviser on Saturday assured British parliamentarian Rupa Huq that the next general election in Bangladesh would be completely free and fair. Hasina among 75 whose passports stripped over July killings He told her that there are two possible timelines for the next general election: December 2025 or mid-2026. “The election date depends on how much reform people want,” Dr Yunus said.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said on Friday that all victims of the July Uprising will receive justice. The Jamaat leader said that his party will always support the families of the victims. He made the remarks during a visit to the home of martyr Abdullah in Bara Anchra village, Benapole Sadar, on Friday afternoon. During the visit, he met with Abdullah's parents, siblings, and relatives, and inquired about their well-being. The Jamaat Amir remarked, "Abdullah is the pride of this area. We are here today because of him. I don't know if we would have had the chance to come here at all if Abdullah had not become a martyr." AL drowned nation in corruption and misrule: Jamaat Ameer "Abdullah was an active participant in the July uprising, and he sacrificed his life to free Bangladesh from fascism. The nation takes pride in his sacrifice today. I hope the entire country will remember him with deep respect and recognize him as a national hero," he added. He further stated that justice will be served for all those who were martyred in the movement. "Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami will always stand by these families," he added. Earlier, he attended a party programme of Jamaat-e-Islami at Jashore Town Hall Maidan.

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Friday said the Awami League plunged the country into corruption and misrule during its prolonged tenure. He said that the party exploited the nation for over 15 years under the guise of governance while engaging in unparalleled oppression and injustice. “Our offices were sealed, party registration was canceled and top leaders were executed through judicial killings. They turned people of the country into slaves,” he said at Jamaat’s district activists' conference as the chief guest at the Eidgah Maidan in Jashore. He highlighted the downfall of the Awami League on August 5 as a remarkable achievement led by the nation's brave sons and he paid tribute to those who lost their lives in the struggle and prayed for their departed souls. ‘Those who ruled for 15 years focused on enriching themselves rather than developing country’: Jamaat Ameer He also condemned the AL government’s crackdown on students during the quota reform movement, accusing them of using tools like hammers, helmet-wearing groups and bullets to suppress the protesters. “Despite their attempts, they failed to quell the movement,” he said. On rising commodity prices, he remarked, “People are burning with hunger as prices of essentials have skyrocketed. This must be controlled. After the fall of the autocratic Awami government, people found their bank accounts empty because the regime looted public wealth and laundered it abroad.” Highlighting the destruction of the education system, he said that the education sector has suffered irreparable damage under the AL regime. “We must overcome this situation.” He lamented the lack of development in Jashore, blaming previous governments for neglecting their promises. “Before coming to power, they pledge development and bow in respect, but once in office, they forget these promises,” he said.

In a call for the medical community to play their due role in societal development, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that doctors have the power to create a more humane nation. “Doctors, if they want, can build a humane nation,” he said while addressing the National Medical Conference, held at the China Friendship Conference Center in the capital on Wednesday. Shafiqur Rahman urged doctors to take the lead in building an ideal society, saying that an integral part of this process involves addressing internal inequalities within the country. Jamaat chief accuses Awami League of murderous politics "To move the nation forward, we must eliminate all forms of inequality. Once inequalities are removed, the nation will progress," he added. Pointing at the broader need for national transformation, the Jamaat Ameer said, “A true wave of change has emerged in Bangladesh. To sustain this change, we must work together in unity.” He noted that these changes are necessary for creating a society that benefits everyone, especially the marginalised. AL's accomplices tasked with destabilising country: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman also focused on medical research, urging doctors to take up advanced research to set an example for the creation of a humane state. “Healthcare can be a model for building a compassionate nation, so doctors should prioritize research and innovation.” 

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday said Awami League (AL) men should be tried under the ‘black laws’ they formulated over an extended period. “We do not want any injustice and oppression on anyone. Let them be tried under the black laws they had formulated over a long period,” he said. The Jamaat chief said this while addressing the member (Rukon) council of Jamaat’s Dhaka north city unit at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area. He mentioned that the AL leaders used to claim that the law is equal for everyone and that the judiciary is independent. “Don’t they deserve the same rights and benefits under equal laws? They should receive what is rightfully theirs to ensure they are not deprived,” he said. On October 28, 2006, the humanity and democracy of Bangladesh, the will and aspirations of the people of Bangladesh were slaughtered in the rampage of Logi-Baitha (sticks-oars), said Dr Rahman. Bangladesh truly lost its way that day. In exchange for many sacrifices for 17 and half years, it got back its own way on August 5, 2024, he said. “All the killers from October 28, 2006 to August 5, 2024 will have to be tried,” said the Jamaat Ameer, adding that the killers of the recent mass movement will have to be tried on priority basis. Citing that no one wants to utter the name of Awami League anymore now, he said, “Now nobody dares to mention their names. Even their party men do not want to utter the name of their party. Why should we, the oppressed people, mention their names?” Credit for August 5 uprising belongs to students, not any party: Jamaat Ameer Dr Rahman said they (AL leaders) have a history of banning their own party. When they had established a one-party system, they banned all parties, including their own one. This time people have banned their party with the help of Allah, he added. “Being ashamed for their misdeeds and seeking apology to the nation, they could have found a way. Not doing so, they are trying to return in the name of Ansar League, Judiciary league and this demand league and that demand league,” he said. The Jamaat chief said they (AL) now send a message to the world that they (AL government) didn’t allow the rise of extremism in Bangladesh, but there is extremism in Bangladesh as they are no longer in the country. He said the biggest extremists were the ones who gave hammers to their children and helmets on their heads. No bigger extremists and terrorists than them were born in Bangladesh, he added. "They committed terrorism. We will not do so. We hate terrorism. We have assured the nation that we will not take any revenge by taking the law into our hands,” said the Jamaat Ameer. He said they (AL) have made people suffer and tortured them by taking laws into their own hands. “But we will not do it. We must seek justice for oppression under existing laws.” Pointing at the leaders and activists, the Jamaat top leader said, “We want to build a united nation in future. So, we have to show limitless patience.”  Jamaat Dhaka north city unit president Mohammad Selim Uddin presided over the council.

Police have found evidence of supporting and funding the new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya by Ameer(chief) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman, said the DMP chief on Saturday. Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq said that the Jamaat Ameer’s son got involved with the militant outfit and later he supported and funded them willingly. He made the comment in reply to a question while briefing reporters after attending a programme in the capital. Read more: Rights experts decry advocacy of Jamaat’s British legal adviser to impose sanctions The Jamaat chief was arrested for his on allegations of assisting the militant group. When asked whether any other leader of Jamaat was found to be associated with the new militant outfit, the commissioner said, “For the sake of privacy, I am not disclosing that information now. We will give details after the operation is successful.” About the escape of two militants from the Dhaka court, Faruq said “We are going to get the report of the investigation committee. The report will ask to take action against those police members who were negligent on duty to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.” Read more: Jamaat ameer involved in breeding new militant outfit: CTTC chief  “Our surveillance has identified not only those two militants but many others who were involved in the incident. Hope we will be able to arrest them soon,” he added.

Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman was involved directly in providing assistance to the activists of new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya to take training in Bandarban and bear the expenses, chief of the Counter Terrorism & Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of DMP Asaduzzaman said Tuesday. Briefing reporters at Dhaka Metropolitan Police media centre, Asaduzzaman said Rafat, son of Shafiqur Rahman, along with one of his associates were arrested from Jatrabari area of the city on November 9. Before the arrest of Rahat, the CTTC unit also arrested three members of new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya from Jatrabari area of the city while they were heading towards Sylhet for training, he said. Following the confessional statement from them, they arrested Rahat and his associates. After interrogating Rafat, it is known that all the youth arrested had been involved in the politics of Shibir and now joined the new militant group, he added. “Rafat was a member of Ansar Al Islam and collected some supporters from the militant group to join their new militant outfit Jamatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya. A group of young people, who left homes recently, led by Rafat went to Bandarban from there they went to Sylhet for training from militants with Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), an armed group in the Chattogram Hill Tracts,” he said. Also read: Jamaat chief put on 7-day remand The Jamaat ameer was involved in sending the young people who left home recently to the hilly areas for training and bearing their expenses, said Asaduzzaman. Besides, a physician identified as Shakir was also arrested in this connection. CTTC unit of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested the ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Shafiqur Rahman in the early hours of Tuesday. A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed Jamaat-e-Islami ameer Shafiqur Rahman on a 7-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury passed the order after the hearing. END/UNB/MJ-MAS/ssk