Dr Shafiqur Rahman, ameer of the Jamaat-e-Islami, has called for the trial of Awami League leaders under the very “black” laws and regulations that the ousted party created during its long rule.
The Jamaat chief made the call during a conference of the party at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Sunday.
He said justice for the massacre during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement must be ensured as soon as possible and that the Awami League must be given its “rightful dues.”
The Jamaat ameer said: “We do not wish injustice or oppression upon anyone. They (Awami League) must be judged by the same black laws they crafted over the years… they used to claim that the law is equal for all and the judiciary is independent. The Awami League has the right to receive equal benefits under the same law. They should be given their rightful dues, and they should not be deprived of them. Everyone should receive what they are owed."
Shafiqur said he no longer even wanted to mention the name of the Awami League. "Nowadays, no one dares to say their name. Even those who are part of their party do not want to mention it. Why should we, the oppressed people, utter their name?" he added.
He stated that the Awami League had a history of banning itself. "When they established the one-party Baksal system, they banned their own party along with all other parties. This time, with Allah’s help, the people have banned their party."
"I do not know if it is natural or artificial, but they (Awami League men) have started growing beards and wearing prayer caps, attempting to reappear in a new form. On one hand, they are deceiving religious people, and on the other, they are sending a message to the world, claiming that during their rule, extremism did not rise in Bangladesh, but now that they are no longer in power, extremism exists in Bangladesh. They are the biggest extremists… No greater extremists or terrorists have ever been born than them."
He went on to accuse the Awami League of ruling entirely through extremism and terrorism. "They perpetuated terrorism. We will not engage in criminality; we abhor terrorism.”
“We have assured the nation that we will not take the law into our own hands or seek revenge against terrorism. Unlike them, who have caused suffering and oppressed people, we will not do the same. We will definitely seek redress for oppression through the existing laws,” the Jamaat chief said.
Addressing his party leaders and workers, he said his party wanted to build a united nation in the future and, therefore, must demonstrate boundless patience.
Shafiqur alleged that Jamaat's top leaders had been executed through “judicial killings.”
"From October 28, 2006, to August 5, 2024, justice must be ensured for all murders. However, priority must be given to those who recently committed the massacre during the mass uprising. Their trial should come first because the blood of the martyrs is still fresh. The wounded are still suffering."