Public has 'red card' ready for extortionists: Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has declared that there is no more room for fascist rule in Bangladesh, warning that the public has prepared a "red card" for those who thrive on extortion.

Addressing an election rally at Gendaria's Dhupkhola Field this afternoon (25 January), following an earlier rally at the capital's Jatrabari, the Jamaat chief presented a vision for a "new and discrimination-free Bangladesh" ahead of the 13th national election.

The rally, organised by the 11-party electoral alliance, saw thousands gather to support candidates in the Dhaka South City Corporation constituencies.

Speaking in support of alliance candidates, including Syed Zainul Abedin for Dhaka-4 and Mohammad Kamal Hossain for Dhaka-5, Shafiqur delivered a stern message to those engaging in local crime.

"For those who have chosen extortion as a new profession, the message is clear — a complete red card," he said.

"Extortion is worse than begging. We will launch two mobile apps: one to identify extortionists and another to allow citizens to report local problems directly to their representatives."

Outlining his party's social welfare plans, the Jamaat chief emphasised that the security and dignity of women are paramount.

He promised special bus services for working women and the reservation of the entire lower deck of state-run double-decker buses for female passengers to ensure safe commutes.

'Azadi' on 12 February

For the youth, he rejected the idea of passive unemployment benefits saying, "We do not want to keep our youth at home with doles. We want to transform them into skilled workers. By making them proficient in English and Arabic alongside Bangla, we will make them fit for the international markets."

Paying tribute to the martyrs of the July Uprising, the Jamaat ameer noted that Dhaka South remains a witness to the blood shed for freedom.

He framed the upcoming election as a choice between sovereignty and servitude.

"A 'Yes' vote on the 12th means Azadi (freedom), while a 'No' means Gulami (slavery)," he said, referring to the simultaneous referendum on the July National Charter.

The campaign trail continues through South Dhaka today, with the next rally scheduled at the Dhaka Alia Madrasah field for the Dhaka-7 constituency.

Personally accountable

In a blunt proposal for local governance, Shafiqur addressed the chronic issues of waterlogging and pollution in the Dhaka South.

He pledged that if his alliance comes to power, the local councillors, mayors, and MPs will be held personally accountable for the state of the rivers.

"If the representatives fail to clean the rivers, they will be made to bathe in that same polluted water four times a year," he stated.

"When they have to submerge themselves in the stench every three months, they will be forced to keep the water pearly clear. We want representatives who act as people's watchmen, not masters."