'People will oust you too like Hasina, if you pursue fascism,' Jamaat ameer warns govt

Highlights:

• Shafiqur warns government against embracing authoritarian rule
• Jamaat chief urges implementation of referendum-backed reform agenda
• Nahid alleges government ignoring public mandate and promised reforms
• Mamunul warns alliance will continue movement until demands met

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Shafiqur Rahman today (25 July) accused the government of pursuing an authoritarian path, warning that it would face the same public backlash as ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if it established "fascist" rule.

"If you establish fascism, the people will drive you out as well. They will not spare you," Shafiqur said while addressing the Sylhet divisional rally of the party-led alliance as the chief guest.

He said the people had voted for change and reforms through the referendum, claiming that around 70% of voters had endorsed the proposals.

"We will not allow the verdict of the referendum to be dishonoured. Our movement will succeed only after that verdict is implemented. We do not want any form of fascism in Bangladesh again," he said.

Alleging that the current administration was following the path of authoritarianism, Shafiqur said those now in government had once claimed to be victims but were now politicising institutions and attempting to institutionalise corruption through partisan appointments.

"We will not accept it under any circumstances," he said.

The rally was chaired by Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman and former minister Col (retd) Oli Ahmad Bir Bikram.

Shafiqur urged the government to accept the alliance's demands peacefully, saying the people had already demonstrated their willingness to sacrifice for political change.

"The people of this country have learned, through sacrifice and suffering, how to fight for freedom. We will not betray our martyrs, the July fighters or the country's 180 million people," he said.

He also called on supporters to remain prepared for a planned rally in Dhaka, saying the next programme would be announced from the capital and urging people to participate in the movement.

Highlighting regional issues, Shafiqur demanded that Osmani International Airport be upgraded into a fully functional international airport.

He also called for the speedy completion of work on the Sylhet-Dhaka highway, the conversion of Sylhet Engineering College into a university and the operational launch of Sylhet Medical University.

"If we come to power, we will fulfil these demands," he said.

Speaking as a special guest, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam claimed that student-led movements were inspiring similar protests beyond Bangladesh.

Referring to recent developments in India, he alleged that the Indian education minister had been forced to resign in the face of a student movement and congratulated the protesters.

"The July Revolution is spreading from one country to another. Young people across the region are speaking out against injustice and discrimination. But our government is moving in the opposite direction by ignoring the people's mandate," Nahid said.

He warned that if the government disregarded the public mandate, it would have to bear the political consequences.

Nahid also alleged that the government had deceived the public by failing to implement its promised 31-point programme and reforms, arguing that the lack of reform had undermined Bangladesh's ability to secure international economic support.

He called for constitutional reforms, criticising those who argued that only constitutional amendments, rather than broader reforms, were necessary.

Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said the alliance had united not merely for elections or power but to implement the July Charter and the objectives of the July Revolution.

"We will continue our united movement until those goals are achieved. We will not leave the streets until the dreams of the martyrs are fulfilled," he said.

Addressing the government, Mamunul warned that it would lose its legitimacy if it betrayed the ideals of the July Revolution.

He also referred to the recent removal of the former president, saying his party had earlier warned against retaining him in office.

Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) Vice-President and spokesperson Rashid Pradhan said another political movement would become inevitable if the July Charter was not implemented in line with the referendum verdict.

"If we see after the Dhaka rally that the July Charter has not been implemented according to the referendum, a one-point movement to topple the government will begin," he said.

AB Party Secretary General Barrister Fuad said the Awami League would not return to power, arguing that the July uprising had fundamentally changed Bangladesh's political landscape.

Among others, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad, Nezam-e-Islam Party Acting Ameer Abdul Qayyum Subhani, Khelafat Andolan Ameer Habibullah Miajee, AB Party Chairman Mujibur Rahman Manju, Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Jagpa spokesperson Rashid Pradhan and Bangladesh Development Party Chairman AKM Amzadul Islam Chan also addressed the rally.