Amir of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, to move the nation forward, all religions and caste differences should be forgotten and united and work shoulder to shoulder. We do not discriminate between any citizen of the country on the basis of religion. We are different flowers in the same garden. We are all proud citizens of Bangladesh. This country belongs to all of us. We feel that if someone truly loves the country, they will not indulge in politics of revenge.
He said to the Buddhist leaders, if you consider the Jamaat necessary for your security, apart from the state security, you will find us by your side at any time, we will stand by you with maximum capacity.
He said these things in the speech of the chief guest at the exchange meeting with Buddhists organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolis South on Sunday (August 18) afternoon.
Central Executive Council member and Amir Nurul Islam Bulbul presided over the discussion meeting and the central Nayeb Amir and former member of Parliament respectively Prof. Mujibur Rahman and Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, Secretary General and former Member of Parliament Prof. Mia Golam Parwar, Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan, Central Working Council Member and Dhaka Metropolitan South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud, Shura member in Central Majlis and Nayeb of Dhaka Metropolitan South Amir Abdus Sabur Fakir and Advocate Dr. Helal Uddin, Shura Member in Central Majlis and Assistant Secretary of Dhaka Metropolitan South Delawar Hossain, Muhammad Kamal Hossain.
Among the Buddhist leaders present were Bangladesh Buddhist Federation’s Chief Advisor Prof. Sukmal Barua, Bangladesh Buddhist Propagation Association Vice-President Bhadanta Swarupananda Bhikkhu, Major (Retd.) Dr. Ajay Prakash Chakma, Founder President of Buddhist Charity Central Committee Kalyan Jyoti, Senior Priest Bhadanta U. Sunanda Mahather of Basabo Buddhist Temple, Priest Bhadanta Prajnadarshi Bhikkhu, Priest Milton Kanti Barua, Member Kanchan Barua, Executive Member of Bangladesh Buddhist Parishad Central Committee Nantu Barua Anuj, Badda Maitri Ratan Bhikkhu of Buddhist Vihara, Priest Gnanananda Ther, Pragya Ratan Bhikkhu, Bhikkhu Jiho Priya Bhante, Ashi Rakhine Bhikkhu, SP Barar etc.
Ameer Jamaat said that the previous government has continued injustice, oppression and torture against Jamaat-e-Islami in this country for 16 years. Top leaders including two former emirs of Jamaat were executed by hanging in false cases. A group wanted to stop the advance of Jamaat by carrying out judicial killings. Houses of Jamaat leaders and activists were bulldozed. Numerous leaders and activists of Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir have been killed in these 16 years. Many youths have been crippled. Lakhs of Jamaat leaders and workers have been thrown in jail in thousands of false cases. We have been tortured by taking them to district jails and remands. We believe that revenge has no place in politics. Politics should be done with a generous and compassionate mind. In that light, we want to contribute to the building of the country in a collective way, leaving aside all the differences of religion, caste and opinion.
Professor Sukomal Barua said, Jamaat-e-Islami’s initiative today is very commendable. Through this communal harmony will increase. Misunderstanding between us will be removed. We can all unite to build the modern Bangladesh.
He appealed to the political leaders to ensure that the people of the Buddhist community do not face any difficulties in the change of political status.