Unemployed youth to be turned into nation builders: Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman has said that his party does not want a divided Bangladesh, but a united one, and aims to transform educated unemployed youth into builders of the nation rather than humiliating them with allowances.

“We do not want to insult educated unemployed youths by giving them stipends. We want to train every unemployed young man and turn him into a skilled force for nation-building. Through proper training, we want to create overseas employment opportunities for them,” he said.

Shafiqur made the remarks on Saturday afternoon while addressing a large election rally at Altafunnesa Playground in Bogura town as the chief guest.

He said that trained youths would earn with dignity abroad and be transformed into a source of national strength.

“We no longer want to see youths in processions of the unemployed. We want a country where people are not harassed by thieves, robbers, extortionists, corrupt officials, and bribe-takers. As long as Allah grants us the strength, we will continue our struggle to see such a Bangladesh,” he said.

The Jamaat chief further said that the party wants to establish a corruption-free, extortion-free, and terrorism-free society based on justice.

“We want to build a humane Bangladesh. Not an inch of this country’s land will be mortgaged to anyone. Our struggle is against all oppressive vested interest groups in the country, as directed by the Quran,” he said.

He added that Jamaat seeks to establish a humane and ideal state through the implementation of Allah’s laws and good governance.

“We promised that our party would not engage in corruption or extortion, and we have kept that promise. You are witnesses,” he said.

Outlining development plans for Bogura, Shafiqur said that if Jamaat comes to power, Bogura would be declared a division, the municipality would be upgraded to a city corporation, a full-fledged public university would be established, and a separate madrasa board would be set up in the district.

He also pledged to establish the long-demanded Sirajganj–Bogura railway line and to renovate Bogura Airport as soon as possible to resume flight operations.

He urged party leaders and activists to remain vigilant during the national parliamentary elections so that no miscreants could seize control of polling centres.

“If anyone tries to take over polling stations, they must be resisted. The kind of deception people of Bangladesh faced in the name of elections in the past must not be repeated,” he said, calling on voters to cast their ballots for the party’s electoral symbol, the scales.

Shafiqur also stressed the need to ensure women’s safety at workplaces and on roads and said that the people of Bogura would vote for educated and capable candidates to help build a just Bangladesh.

The rally was presided over by Bogura district Jamaat Ameer Maulana Abdul Haque. Special guests included Jamaat-e-Islami Central Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim, Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, JAGPA Vice President Rashed Pradhan, and Islami Chhatra Shibir Central Secretary General Sibgatullah Sibga.

Several parliamentary candidates from Bogura constituencies and leaders of various political and allied organisations also attended the rally.

Earlier in the day, Jamaat leaders and activists from different upazilas of the district began arriving at the venue in processions from the morning.

By 10:30am, the playground was filled to capacity, with a large turnout of Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir activists across the city.