Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, said women would be “safest” if his party comes to power and that young people would be prioritized in future national leadership. He made the remarks during a televised address to the nation on Bangladesh Television on Monday evening ahead of the parliamentary election and referendum.
In the speech, he said youth would be the “captains” of the country, with elders acting as companions. On religious issues, he stated that attacks or oppression based on religious identity would be resisted and that ensuring the rights of people of all faiths is a responsibility.
Calling on voters, he urged support for candidates of the 11-party alliance and framed the vote as a choice for honesty, justice, and employment, and against corruption and authoritarianism. He also said the judiciary should be reformed and that judges should be appointed based on integrity and competence.
He called on members of religious groups to work in the election and said a culture of labeling and harming people must end. Addressing expatriates, he said the state should ensure their rights and take responsibility for returning bodies with respect if deaths occur abroad. In closing, he expressed regret if any Jamaat leader or worker had caused harm during the campaign.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 