July Uprising's revolution to continue until freedom of all citizens ensured: Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman today (1 February) said the revolution of July Uprising would continue until the freedom and dignity of the country's 180 million people are ensured, warning against testing the patience of his party leaders and supporters.

Addressing a rally organised by the party-led 11-party alliance in Sherpur, he said leaders who could face the gallows with a smile should not be provoked. He urged party activists, particularly youths, to take Jamaat's ideals to the people and remain vigilant. 

Calling on the youth to prepare themselves to govern the country, the ameer said Jamaat wanted to hand over Bangladesh to capable young people. "We do not want to insult the youth with unemployment allowances. They came to the streets demanding the right to work," he said.

He also pledged to ensure security and dignity for women in homes, public spaces and workplaces, rejecting allegations that Jamaat seeks to confine women. "If a mother is attacked, Bangladesh will explode. The children of this land will not sit idle," he said.

"We will judge people by their competence and patriotism, not by religion. Bangladesh belongs to Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians alike," he added.

Referring to the recent killing of a party leader in Sherpur's Sreebardi upazila, Shafiqur expressed frustration over the lack of arrests even three days after the incident. He said he had directly raised the issue with the home affairs adviser, demanding visible progress in the investigation.

However, he cautioned against taking the law into one's own hands. "We are not uncivilised, but neither are we weak or cowardly," he said.

Shafiqur also alleged that his X account had been hacked, leading to offensive posts about women. He apologised for any distress caused and warned against what he termed "cowardly attacks" instead of ideological confrontation.

He outlined development pledges for Sherpur, including medical education, railway expansion and agro-based industrialisation.

The Jamaat chief reiterated his party's stance against extortion, land grabbing and false cases, claiming Jamaat had maintained restraint despite years of repression. 

Shafiqur also addressed a rally in Jamalpur and his own constituency (Dhaka-15) today and he is scheduled to visit four constituencies of northern district Nilphamari tomorrow.