Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Saturday alleged that Sheikh Hasina and her family have used Bangladesh just as a source of their income while their true loyalties lie elsewhere in the world.
“Quite often, she [Hasina] used to say, ‘I have lost my father, mother, brothers and everything. I have nothing to gain from this country. My heart and soul belong to Bangladesh.’ These words seem sincere, but the reality is different. Only she lived in Bangladesh. Her son, daughter and even niece are settled abroad,” said the Jamaat ameer while speaking as chief guest at a party gathering at the Kushtia Government College.
For the marriage of her children and niece, Hasina did not find anyone suitable in Bangladesh and married them off to Christian and Jew, he said, adding that there is nothing wrong with this as they are also human beings.
However, he questioned, “If they loved Bangladesh so much, why could they not find love here for at least one or two children? This is the true reflection of their so-called love for the country.”
The Jamaat ameer accused Sheikh Hasina’s family of treating Bangladesh merely as an income source while maintaining their lives and ties elsewhere. “You will find that their children and even the children of many lawmakers and ministers are now living luxurious lives abroad, including in a neighbouring country.”
Criticising the education system under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, Dr Rahman claimed that she systematically destroyed Bangladesh’s education sector, the nation's backbone.
“None of her children studied here. So there is no emotional investment or concern for the country’s education or institutions,” the Jamaat ameer claimed.
He also accused Hasina’s government of using the quota system as an opportunity for talented students, saying, “Bright students from poor families who studied hard and achieved good results were denied jobs due to the quota system.”
Citing its imbalance, he said, “As many as 56% of jobs were reserved under quotas, leaving only 44% for merit. Even within this system, they calculated how to benefit Awami League supporters.”
The Jamaat ameer alleged that loyalty to the Awami League was a prerequisite for employment in the country. “Anyone who does not pledge unconditional loyalty to the Awami League has no job prospects.”
He remarked that this discrimination prompted the youth to take to the streets, demanding reforms in the quota system, not its abolition. However, Sheikh Hasina abolished the quota system in 2018, only to reinstate it later through court orders, deceiving the students. This betrayal unified the student community and sparked protests.
He further accused Hasina of using force to suppress movements, “She believed she could suppress the students just as she silenced Jamaat, harmed the army, and targeted Hefazat-e-Islam by killing numerous leaders and activists. She unleashed her hooligan forces, bullets and guns against the students.”
He further alleged that on that day, the heads of law enforcement and other agencies had warned Sheikh Hasina that the movement could not be suppressed even if thousands of people had been killed.
He claimed, “Hasina said millions could be killed if necessary, but the officials responded that even killing millions would not stop the movement because 10 crore people had joined it.”
Concluding his speech, the Jamaat ameer said, “Our party envisions a corruption-free, transparent and equitable Bangladesh. We urge everyone to join us in this mission.”
Earlier at a meeting with civil society people in Kushtia Shilpokala hall on Friday night, he stated that engaging in making profits, extortion or corruption is not a part of Jamaat’s principles.
“We are not involved in 'case filing business', extortion and corruption. These unethical practices caused public outrage and ultimately led to the downfall of previous governments. Those who persist in such activities will inevitably face the same consequences,” he said.
Referring to comments by Awami League leaders, Dr Shafiqur said, “They claimed that if they left power, within two days, we would kill five lakh of their leaders and activists. Alhamdulillah, no such thing has happened.”
Source: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
