Jhalokathi, August 9 (V7N) – The Islami Jubo Andolon held a mass rally on Friday afternoon at the central Eidgah ground in Jhalokathi to mark its founding anniversary. The event was attended by thousands of supporters and featured speeches addressing national politics, upcoming elections, and Islamic values.
Speaking as the chief guest, Mufti Syed Faizul Karim, Senior Vice-President of Islami Andolon Bangladesh and popularly known as Shayekh-e-Charmonai, declared that the next phase of political struggle would be through ballots, not violence. “A fascist regime was removed on August 5, but our fight is far from over,” he said. “In the coming national election, our war will be fought through ballots — against extortionists, fascists, rapists, and oppressors.”
He added that the people of the country are now divided into two groups: those who support Islamic values and those who do not. “All Islamic parties must unite under one ballot box. Our vision is to transform Bangladesh into a nation based on Islamic principles,” he said.
Criticizing the BNP, Faizul Karim accused the party of straying from the ideals of its founder, the late President Ziaur Rahman. “Today’s BNP is no longer guided by Zia’s ideology. Instead, it is walking the same fascist path as the Awami League. The slogans the Awami League once chanted against Islamic scholars are now being echoed by BNP. They have wrapped themselves in many layers, like parasites, abandoning their original values,” he said.
Addressing recent criticism labeling Islamic donations as extortion, he stated, “Some are intentionally equating ‘hadia’ (voluntary donation) with forced extortion. But there’s a clear difference. Extortion is taken by force; hadia is given out of goodwill. There are cases where people have been killed for not paying extortion, but no one has ever been harmed for not giving hadia.”
He also emphasized that any future general election must be held under a proportional representation (PR) system. “The people of this country will not accept elections outside the PR system. Islamic forces are united and will work for the nation’s future. We have seen many slogans since independence — Sonar Bangla, Digital Bangladesh, Smart Bangladesh — now it's time for Islamic Bangladesh,” he said.
The rally was presided over by Islami Jubo Andolon President Maulana Mizanur Rahman. Other speakers included Islami Andolon Presidium Member and Jhalokathi-2 constituency candidate Dr. Sirajul Islam Siraji; Central Organizational Secretary Maulana Muhammad Al-Amin; District Islami Andolon President Hafiz Muhammad Alamgir Hossain; District Jamaat Amir Advocate Hafizur Rahman; Independent candidate for Rajapur-Kathalia Dr. Faizul Haque; and Hefazat-e-Islam’s Jhalokathi leader Maulana Abdur Rahim Khan.
The event concluded with calls for political unity among Islamic groups and a peaceful but determined campaign leading up to the upcoming national election.
END/AIJ/SMA/
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