Jamaat Ameer Calls for Change in State Character, Warns Against Vote Snatching

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman declared on Friday that while the geographical map of Bangladesh will remain unchanged, its political character must undergo a total transformation. Speaking at an election rally at the Boalmari Upazila Stadium, he urged citizens to move past the failures of the past and build a "New Bangladesh."

The rally was organized to support Dr. Ilias Mollah, the party's nominated candidate for the Faridpur-1 constituency.

Addressing the upcoming February 12 national election, Dr. Shafiqur warned the youth to remain alert against attempts to subvert the people’s mandate.

"The youth have woken up. From now on, we must be on guard," he said, using a metaphor to describe potential electoral interference. "Eagles—black eagles—may descend from the sky or rise from the ground to snatch away your votes. If anyone tries to touch your vote, you must spread your wings and stop them. No malpractice will be tolerated this time."

The Jamaat chief emphasized the importance of the concurrent referendum, urging voters to cast a "Yes" vote. He framed the choice as a victory for the 180 million citizens of the country rather than a singular party win.

Dr. Shafiqur also took aim at what he called the "rotten trend" of opportunistic wealth accumulation among politicians.

"It is a strange culture in our country where a leader’s family and in-laws see their wealth increase by leaps and bounds immediately after an election. We are committed to ending this cycle of corruption."

The meeting, chaired by District Jamaat Nayeb Amir Abu Harich Mollah, also featured speeches from District Amir Maulana Badruddin and candidate Dr. Ilias Mollah.

Following the Boalmari event, the Ameer traveled to Faridpur city to address another public gathering at Government Rajendra College in support of Faridpur-3 candidate Professor Abdut Tawab.