Photo: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

DHAKA, Jan 26, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman today vowed to restore old Dhaka with just honour and respect it truly deserves, describing it as the rightful claim of its populace. 

Speaking at an election rally at Dhupkhola field, he said the city’s heritage and its residents must be recognised and valued for their historical and social contributions.

“Old Dhaka deserves respect based on justice. This respect is their right; it is their due,” he said while addressing an election rally at Dhupkhola field in the capital this afternoon. The rally was organised by the Jamaat election committee of Dhaka-6 constituency.

Referring to the popular English phrase ‘old is gold’, the Jamaat chief said they want to turn old Dhaka into “gold,” Insha’Allah. “From the homes of old Dhaka, many have gone on to become Members of Parliament, ministers, senior bureaucrats, freedom fighters and even military commanders, eating the food of this area. Yet the gratitude that old Dhaka rightfully deserved was never repaid,” he said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said they would take the opportunity to repay that gratitude and urged people to keep them in their prayers. He added that the demands raised by the residents of old Dhaka were neither unreasonable nor excessive, but entirely justified.

Highlighting broader political responsibilities, he said politicians were entrusted with guiding the nation, establishing justice and fairness, educating the youth to face future challenges, ensuring children’s mental development, and guaranteeing dignity and security for every citizen. 

“Unfortunately, those who ruled the country in rotation over the last 54 years failed to fulfil these responsibilities,” he added.

He said successive governments failed to ensure the rights of the people of all ages and to build future generations as responsible citizens, resulting in social disorder and unrest. 

“A section of the youth has been pushed towards drugs and social crimes because the state failed to provide education and basic rights,” he said.

Expressing concern for the affected youth, the Jamaat Ameer questioned how the state and the government could remain so irresponsible that a child would be deprived of proper healthcare and education from early life.

Acknowledging these failures, he said the 11-party alliance would shoulder these social responsibilities if elected with public support. “We want to build Bangladesh as a flower garden beyond party and religion, where there will be no division among people. Our identity will be one – we are Bangladeshis,” he said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said the envisioned Bangladesh would be a nation of justice, education, social security and employment, where people would stand with dignity before the world and proudly say, “This is my Bangladesh.”

Recalling historical struggles, he said the promises of justice and equality remained unfulfilled even after independence, while wealth was looted by those in power. “Some claimed Bangladesh would become Singapore or Canada, but in reality, those countries became destinations for looted money, not models for our people,” he said.

He alleged that extortion and corruption continued to haunt businesspeople and reiterated that Jamaat would neither take nor allow extortion. “We do not want Jamaat’s victory alone; we want the victory of 180 million people,” he added.

Calling the upcoming February 12 polls a decisive choice between subjugation and freedom, he said the struggle against oppression had not ended and would continue until the nation reaches true liberation.