Unity like a leaden wall will be needed to move the nation forward
-Dr. Shafiqur Rahman
Saying that unity like a leaden wall will be needed to move the nation forward, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, I would like to humbly ask you not to do any outrageous act; which will destroy our national unity. We should not steal or extort. We should not engage in extortion, do not engage in occupation, do not engage in litigation. We should not provide any shelter or protection to fascists.
He said these things as the chief guest in the huge workers' conference organized by Kurigram District Jamaat at Kurigram Government College Ground on Friday, January 24. The workers' conference was presided over by District Ameer Maulana Abdul Matin Farooqui. Moderated by District Secretary Maulana Nizam Uddin, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Director Maulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee Member and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Assistant Director Principal Maulana Momtaz Uddin, Regional Team Member Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, Former Ameer of Kurigram District Azizur Rahman, Barrister Mahbub Alam Salehi and Rangpur Metropolitan Ameer ATM Azam Khan delivered speeches as special guests. Earlier, the conference began with the recitation of the Quran with the meaning by Qari Abdullah Al Amin. Music was performed by Dharla Shilpi Goshti and Kurigram Cultural Academy.
People started coming in droves to the workers' conference from early morning, ignoring the bone-chilling cold and foggy weather. People started streaming towards the Kurigram Government College ground. On this day, the streets and streets of the fields and ghats were filled with the sound of 'Naraye Takbir Allahu Akbar'. Before the Ameer-e-Jamaat took the stage, the conference venue was overflowing. The surrounding area was flooded with people. Even though the sun did not appear until noon, thousands of people took positions at different places to listen to Dr. Shafiqur Rahman's speech.
In his speech as the chief guest, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, who oppressed people of different religions in a long period from January 10, 1972 to January 24, 2025, who occupied their lands, uprooted them from their homes, plundered their wealth, and touched their honor, these miscreants should be listed and made public. If this act was committed by me, then my name should also be made public. Let the people of Bangladesh know who they are. You know who stole cows and set houses on fire in your fishing village of Pirganj in Greater Rangpur. This misdeed was committed under the leadership of the Jubo League leader. Attacks on non-Muslim brothers in Santal Palli, B-Baria of Dinajpur, looting and arson of houses, vandalizing the Buddhist monastery in Ramu, attacking and arson of houses; Awami League miscreants were involved in all these misdeeds. But Jamaat-e-Islami was held responsible for everything. You are the witnesses - who shot and killed former MP Liton of Sundarganj, Gaibandha near his house. The then Prime Minister stood in Parliament and said, Ekaj had organized a Jamaat-e-Shibir. There was a riot. Our innocent leaders and activists were arrested and taken on remand and subjected to physical, mental and financial torture. We said we do not do such dirty deeds, we did not do them. At the end of the day, it turned out that Jamaat-e-Islami had no connection with Ekaj. Rather, their power partner, a former colonel who was a former MP from that seat, has come forward to clear the way for his future. The trial proved that he is the murderer.
We do not want to look back anymore. The nation wants to move forward. If the nation is to move forward, the unity of the nation's leaden wall will be needed. He assured the nation and said, we are not in favor of revenge. However, there is no forgiveness for the murderers. Every murder must be tried.
He gave an example and said, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forgave all the enemies during the conquest of Mecca. He said, today a general amnesty has been declared. But the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) mentioned the names of ten or thirteen of those who killed innocent people and said, kill them wherever you find them. Murder is never forgiven. We want justice for every murder in Bangladesh. Not just our leaders and workers. We want justice for all the people who have been unjustly killed.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, the people of Greater Rangpur are proud of you for many reasons. But you are deprived. The war that you taught in the dark in this big house of Roumari; that war has been avenged through the BDR's Peelkhana massacre.
In the long 15 and a half years of sending away fascism, a man has written his golden name not only in the history of Bangladesh but also in the history of the world. This child is also from Greater Rangpur. He asked the crowd present, what is his name? The answer from the field is 'Abu Sayeed'. He is now the icon of our revolution. Our symbol, our Sipahshala. Our brave commander. Let us pray that all those who gave their lives along his path will be accepted as martyrs. May we remember them with respect, hold them in our hearts with honor. We are grateful to the martyrs and the disabled. This nation does not have the strength to repay this debt. However, for the reason they were martyred, we promise them on behalf of our beloved organization that our fight will continue until a corruption-free, balanced, non-discriminatory and humane Bangladesh is built, God willing. He once again said, ‘Abu Saeed is impressed, the war is not over’. The war will end the day a humane Bangladesh is established. The war will continue until then. We will protest when we see injustice in society.
