Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today addressed an election rally in Meherpur this afternoon. Photo: BSS

MEHERPUR, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur  Rahman today said his party would not allow the wealth of elected public representatives to increase and would present annual income and expenditure statements to ensure accountability.

"We will not allow the wealth of elected representatives to increase. We will  place income and expenditure accounts every year," he said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman also said extortionists would not be rehabilitated but  provided with employment opportunities so that they would not return to  extortion.

He made the remarks while addressing an election rally at Meherpur Government  High School ground this afternoon.

The rally was organised in support of Jamaat-nominated and 10-party alliance- backed candidates ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary election-- Maulana  Md Tajuddin Khan for Meherpur-1 constituency and Md Nazmul Huda for Meherpur- 2 (Gangni) constituency respectively.

Referring to previous governments, the Jamaat Ameer said no one could claim  that there was no corruption during their tenure, no looting of people's  wealth, no bank robbery, or that they ensured proper education for the future  of children.

"If the nation entrusts us with responsibility on February 12, by Allah's  oath, we will not touch people's wealth. We will safeguard it as trustees of  the people," he said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Meherpur is a small district with only three upazilas  where people know one another, yet even this district had come under the grip  of extortionists.

"If we come to power with people's mandate, we will take responsibility for  these people and provide them with jobs so that they do not engage in  extortion," he added.

During the election, he said, "'Yes' means freedom and 'No' means slavery.  Our first vote will be a 'Yes' vote. If everyone ensures a 'Yes' vote, the  country will be victorious." 

He also urged voters to guard polling centres and resist any attempt at vote  rigging. Criticising the rulers of the past 54 years, he said justice had not  been established in the country during this period and many youths had become  involved in drugs and other crimes. "If given responsibility, we will  decorate the country like a flower so that people can take pride in it," he  added.

Reiterating a tough stance against corruption and extortion, Dr Shafiqur  Rahman said Jamaat would neither engage in corruption nor tolerate it. "We  will not do extortion, we will not do corruption, and we will not patronise  corruption," he continued.

On unemployment, he said Jamaat would not introduce unemployment allowances  even if the state had funds, arguing that allowances increase unemployment  rather than reduce it. "We will give jobs, not allowances," he said, adding  that the country would move forward on the strength of its youth.

Later, Dr Shafiqur Rahman handed over the party's election symbol 'Daripalla'  (The scales) to the candidates of the two Meherpur constituencies and sought  cooperation from leaders, activists and the public in building a justice- based state.

The rally was chaired by Maulana Md Tajuddin Khan, Jamaat Ameer of Meherpur  district and candidate for Meherpur-1 constituency. 

Md Nazmul Huda, candidate for Meherpur-2 seats and Gangni upazila Jamaat  Ameer; Islami Chhatra Shibir Central Secretary General Sibgatullah Sibga;  Central Odhikar Parishad Secretary Amirul Islam; NCP central member Engineer  Sohel Rana; and district Jamaat Secretary Md Iqbal Hossain, among others,  also addressed on the occasion.