People will show BNP a red card in election: Jamaat’s Shafiqur

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has said people will show BNP a "red card" in the upcoming election and that the country will get a "new Bangladesh" from 13 February.

"The people will show BNP a red card. From 13 February, the people will get a new Bangladesh," he said today (2 February) while addressing a Jamaat-organised election rally at the Muktijoddha Maath in Cox's Bazar city as the chief guest.

Shafiqur Rahman reached the rally venue shortly after 12pm and addressed the gathering. Earlier in the day, he spoke as the chief guest at another public rally in Maheshkhali.

At both rallies, he said his party does not believe in dynastic politics. "We do not believe in the ideology that the king's son must be king. Whoever it may be, an MP, a minister or even the prime minister, if they commit a crime, we want to ensure their trial," he said.

Referring to the election, he said, "On the 12th, we will cast 'yes' votes ourselves and encourage the people of the country to vote 'yes'. If votes are cast for the scale, Cox's Bazar will be illuminated."

Shafiqur Rahman said Cox's Bazar is a region with great potential and that proper utilisation of its natural and economic resources could turn it into one of the country's major development hubs. "For that, leadership based on justice and fairness is necessary," he said.

During the rally, he introduced the candidates for each constituency to the public and urged young people to prepare themselves, saying, "Get ready. This Bangladesh is being built for you."

Speaking further on the election, the Jamaat chief said, "This election is not just about a change of power; it is an election to change the direction of the nation. It is an election to fulfil the aspirations of the July Movement and to build a safe Bangladesh for mothers and sisters."

"By voting for the scale on the 12th, the people of the country will prove it," he added.

Earlier, at the Maheshkhali rally, Shafiqur Rahman said, "We do not want Jamaat's victory alone; we want the victory of the country's 180 million people. If the people win, that will be the true victory, and I will be a part of that victory, InshaAllah."

The rally was chaired by district Jamaat President Nur Ahmed Anwari and conducted by district secretary Jahidul Islam. Central and local leaders also addressed the gathering.

After concluding the rallies in Maheshkhali and Cox's Bazar, the Jamaat ameer left for a public meeting in Paduya of Lohagara upazila in Chattogram.