Shafiqur Rehman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has apologised to his countrymen ahead of elections next year. However, he chose the United States of America as the venue for his apology. He made the remarks during an event organised by the Coalition of Bangladeshi American Associations (COBA) on Wednesday.
Shafiqur Rahman said, “From 1947 to this day, 22 October, 2025, at 8:11 pm, whoever has suffered any pain or harm because of us — I seek forgiveness unconditionally, whether from an individual or from the entire nation. It makes no difference.”
The Jamaat Ameer added, “When ATM Azharul Islam was recently released from prison, I also said then that if anyone has been hurt or harmed by Jamaat-e-Islami since 1947, I seek unconditional forgiveness on behalf of all individuals and the organisation. Please forgive us.”
Shafiqur Rahman admits Jamaat-e-Islami did not want independence for Bangladesh
Rahman said that he and his colleagues have never claimed that they are beyond mistakes. He expressed gratitude to those who ‘corrected’ their mistakes. The Ameer acknowledged that the Jamaat-e-Islami did not want Bangladesh to gain independence from Pakistan. The Jamaat-e-Islami wanted Bangladesh and Pakistan to remain united even as Pakistanis committed a genocide of Bengalis.
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He said, “Did Jamaat have a role in 1971? Of course it did. Jamaat at that time believed that Pakistan should remain united. But even then, many Awami League leaders worked under the Pakistan government, drew salaries, and their family members received rations and other benefits from that government.”
He went on to add, “Until then, everyone who worked in East Pakistan had accepted Pakistan. Now you can say that this is against the public expectation. The public expectation was that the rulers of Pakistan should go, and Bangladesh should become independent. Why didn’t Jamaat respect this? This is a legitimate question. It would have been better if it had been done, it should have been done; I have no disagreement on this.”
Jamaat will contest elections for the first time since 2013 ban
The Bangladesh Supreme Court lifted the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami after the coup against Sheikh Hasina. In 2013, a High Court order had cancelled its registration. Sheikh Hasina had heavily cracked down on the Jamaat due to its Islamists inclinations and crimes committed during the liberation war.
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Jamaat-e-Islami has made Islam its core agenda for the upcoming elections. They have been organising huge rallies across the country to usher in ‘Islamic Rule’ in Bangladesh.
