Bangladesh

Bangladesh Must Have Equal, Respectful Ties With India: Jamaat Chief Shafiqur Rahman

21 August 2026 20:08 PM

NEWS DESK

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman can visit India, but any such trip must be based on equality, mutual respect and friendship.

“The prime minister can visit anywhere in the world. There is no problem with visiting our neighboring country India either. But such a visit must be based on equality, equal dignity and friendship,” Shafiqur Rahman said.

He made the remarks on Friday while addressing a conference of Jamaat-e-Islami members (Rukon) in Rajshahi at the Rajshahi District Council auditorium.

“The people of this country will no longer accept anyone’s hegemonic influence. They want Bangladesh’s relationship with India to be based on friendship, equal dignity and equality,” he said.

The Jamaat chief also said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, who serves simultaneously as head of government and head of his political party, has the authority to take strong action against extortion, corruption and bribery.

“He can put an end to extortion, corruption and bribery. If he wants, these things will stop. The key question is whether he wants to do so,” Shafiqur Rahman said.

Addressing party activists, he described Jamaat-e-Islami as an ideological organization that has worked for a long time to build public trust while promoting Islamic values and what it describes as an ideal society and state.

Call to Protect Voting Rights

Shafiqur Rahman instructed party activists to stand beside ordinary people during the upcoming local government elections and work to ensure their voting rights.

“Our activists must play an active role so that no one can snatch away the people’s votes,” he said.

The conference was chaired by Dr Maulana Keramat Ali, Ameer of Rajshahi Metropolitan Jamaat-e-Islami, and moderated by its secretary, Imaz Uddin Mondal.

Central Naib-e-Ameer Professor Mujibur Rahman attended as a special guest. Other speakers included Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Dhaka South Metropolitan Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, Assistant Regional Director Professor Rafiqul Islam, Central Executive Council member Principal Nazrul Islam, and Rajshahi District Jamaat Ameer Professor Abdul Khaleque.

Other Rajshahi Metropolitan Jamaat leaders, including Naib-e-Ameer Advocate Abu Mohammad Selim, Dr Mohammad Jahangir, Assistant Secretary Mahbubul Ahsan Bulbul, and Principal Md Shahadat Hossain, were also present.

More than 1,000 Jamaat members (Rukon) from Rajshahi Metropolitan area attended the conference.

Jamaat-e-Islami India