A Correspondent:
Satkhira: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman yesterday vowed that if his party gets the opportunity to form the government, there will be no compromise, mercy, or forgiveness in recovering looted public wealth, warning that those who siphoned off national resources would be brought to justice.
“Some political criminals and powerful groups have plundered public resources and siphoned them off abroad. Around Taka 28 lakh crore has been laundered abroad, for which documented evidence exists, while there is no account of the undocumented money,” he told a public rally organized by district Ja-maat at the Satkhira Government High School ground yesterday.
Dr. Rahman said, “If Allah grants us the mandate through your votes, no ’educated thief’ will be able to steal a single penny of the people’s wealth,” he said, adding that governance would be based on consulta-tion with the people, not decisions imposed from above.
He said the future direction of governance must be made clear now. “Once the government is formed, no one will dare touch black money. Officials and employees of all professions will be ensured dignified living conditions.
Separate wage structures will be introduced for those engaged in risky professions,” the Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer said.
Emphasising people’s sovereignty, he said Jamaat does not seek party victory alone. “We want the victo-ry of 180 million people. If the people are free, we will be free. But if the people fall into subservience, we too will fall into danger,” Dr. Rahman said.
Calling on voters to support the ‘Yes’ vote, he said, “The first seal on February 12 must be for ‘Yes’. ‘Yes’ means freedom, ‘No’ means subjugation. If ‘Yes’ wins, Bangladesh wins; if it loses, Bangladesh los-es.”
Shafiqur Rahman said that if Jamaat gets the opportunity, governance would be conducted in line with religious principles through consensus.
“Differences of opinion exist among Muslims, but decisions will be taken through a common consulta-tive platform,” he said, urging the people of Satkhira to stand for justice and against fascism in the up-coming election.
Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar and Jamaat-nominated candidates from Satkhira’s four constituencies and leaders of the 11-party electoral alliance addressed the rally, chaired by Satkhira dis-trict Jamaat Ameer Shahidul Islam Mukul and conducted by its secretary general Azizur Rahman.
