Jamaat Chief Warns Government Against ‘Fascism,’ Says People Could Oust It Like Hasina

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Shafiqur Rahman on Friday warned the government against pursuing what he described as an authoritarian path, saying it could face the same fate as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina if it embraced "fascist" rule.

Addressing the Jamaat-led alliance's Sylhet divisional rally, Shafiqur claimed the people had already rejected authoritarian politics and would not tolerate another government that ignored public demands.

"If you establish fascism, the people will drive you out as well. They will not spare you," he said.
 

Shafiqur argued that the public had endorsed political reforms through a national referendum, claiming that roughly 70 percent of voters supported the proposed changes. He urged the government to implement the referendum-backed reform agenda, insisting that the alliance would continue its movement until the people's verdict was fully respected.
 

"We will not allow the verdict of the referendum to be dishonoured. We do not want any form of fascism in Bangladesh again," he said.

The Jamaat chief accused the administration of politicising state institutions and attempting to institutionalise corruption through partisan appointments. He said those who once claimed to oppose authoritarianism were now following the same path.
 

He also called on the government to accept the alliance's demands peacefully, warning that the public had already demonstrated its willingness to make sacrifices 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 added.

Shafiqur urged supporters to prepare for a major rally in Dhaka, saying the alliance's next political programme would be announced there.
 

In addition to national political issues, he raised several regional demands, including upgrading Osmani International Airport into a fully operational international airport, accelerating work on the Sylhet-Dhaka highway, converting Sylhet Engineering College into a university, and launching Sylhet Medical University.

Speaking at the rally, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam alleged that student-led protest movements in Bangladesh had inspired similar movements in other countries.

Referring to recent developments in India, Nahid claimed that student protests had forced the resignation of the country's education minister and congratulated the demonstrators.
 

"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," he said.
 

Nahid further accused the government of failing to implement its promised 31-point reform programme, arguing that the absence of meaningful reforms had weakened Bangladesh's international standing and its ability to secure economic support.
 

He also called for broader constitutional reforms, rejecting arguments that limited constitutional amendments would be sufficient.
 

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque said the alliance had united to implement the July Charter and the goals of the July Revolution rather than merely seeking political power.

"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.

Mamunul warned that the government would lose its legitimacy if it abandoned the ideals of the July Revolution and reiterated his party's criticism over the former president's continued tenure before his removal.

Jagpa Vice-President and spokesperson Rashid Pradhan also warned that a new nationwide political movement could begin if the July Charter is not implemented in line with the referendum outcome.
 

"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.
 

Leaders from several alliance partners, including the AB Party, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Khelafat Andolan, Nezam-e-Islam Party, Labour Party, Jagpa and Bangladesh Development Party, also addressed the rally, reiterating demands for political reforms and implementation of the July Charter.