Revolution will return again and again if people's rights are not ensured, Jamaat Amir Shafiqur Rahman says in Moghbazar

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said revolution will return to the country again and again if the people's rights are not ensured. Those who fail to understand the language of the people's minds will meet the same fate as on 7 November, he also said.

He made the remarks as chief guest at a discussion meeting on National Revolution and Solidarity Day, organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Dhaka Metropolitan North at the Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar in the capital on Friday (6 November) noon.

The Jamaat Amir said there were many reasons behind the sepoys' revolt on 7 November 1975. After taking power in 1972, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned all Islamic organisations in the country, although those organisations had been active in the 1970 election and had taken part in it. Before the election, Sheikh Mujib had repeatedly said that if the Awami League was elected, no work against the Quran and Sunnah would be done. Yet after coming to power, the Islamic organisations were banned.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, after coming to power, established a one-party system of rule instead of multiparty democracy. Through the establishment of BAKSAL on 25 January 1975, a system of 'one leader, one country' was created.

Raising the economic situation of that time, the Jamaat Amir said the country's resources were looted and sold abroad. Relief materials allocated for the people also did not properly reach them. Although eight crore blankets were supposed to arrive for seven and a half crore people, ordinary people did not receive blankets. Sheikh Mujib himself once expressed regret over this, saying that after independence the leaders of different countries had found gold mines, while he had found a mine of thieves.

Raising the events of 7 November, he said contempt, insult and neglect towards army officers had created anger among military officers. The uprising that day took place mainly to take revenge for that anger. The people had no direct involvement in it at the beginning.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said that between 15 August and November, various changes of power and instability were created in the country. On 3 November, a counter-coup took place under the leadership of Brigadier Khaled Mosharraf. Later, the sepoys organised and foiled that coup. Ziaur Rahman was captive from 3 to 6 November. He had no role of his own at that time; the sepoys freed him and brought him forward.

He said that at dawn the sepoys took to the streets with tanks and infantry. People coming out of mosques after prayers welcomed them with takbir and showered flowers. Crowds poured out in Dhaka and other important cities of the country. The sepoys carried out the revolution, but the people gave it their full support. That is why the day is called Revolution and Solidarity Day.

The Jamaat Amir said that after 7 November, Ziaur Rahman gradually served as administrator and president. Later he formed the BNP. However, Ziaur Rahman's role in 1971 and the events of 7 November 1975 must be viewed separately.

He said the events of 15 August and 7 November took place against misrule, a one-party system and authoritarian rule. People wanted to live as citizens of an independent country. They wanted their own rights, the right to speak, the right to live, the right to jobs, the right to justice and the civic rights of men and women.

The opposition leader said another mass uprising later took place in the country in 1990 as well. BNP leader Justice Sattar had been elected president by the people's vote. The people had hoped he would be a guardian of democracy. But society was devastated by the then government's inefficiency, corruption and various limitations.

The Jamaat Amir said the president elected by the people's vote ultimately handed power to the army chief. Many say he gave up power at gunpoint. But he should have refused to hand over power, citing the people's mandate. He could not protect the trust the people had placed in him.

On the killing of Ziaur Rahman, Dr Shafiqur Rahman said his departure was not normal either. He mentioned that at the Chattogram Circuit House, those who were with Zia that day had their bodies riddled with bullets. There was much debate and discussion about these matters at the time.

He also said democracy in politics means negotiation and flexibility. When these two things are absent from politics, politics becomes rigid and is no longer the people's politics.

The discussion meeting, chaired by Jamaat-e-Islami central executive council member and Dhaka Metropolitan North Amir Mohammad Selim Uddin, was attended by the party's Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar and other central leaders.