2024 uprising a rehearsal for final battle, says Jamaat Ameer

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Opposition Leader Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday described the 2024 mass uprising as a rehearsal rather than the final battle.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Principles and Ideals of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in State Reform” at the Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, Rahman said, “The 2024 mass uprising should not be seen as the ‘final battle’. Rather, it should be considered as a rehearsal for the ‘final battle’ ahead.”

He added that those who rose up in 2024 “have not all died, nor have they fallen asleep. They are observing everything with a vigilant eye.” 

Comparing the situation to military preparation, he said an army trains and rehearses before the main battle, and 2024 should be viewed in that light.

Shafiqur Rahman described fascism as a contagious disease unrelated to any particular party that spreads and infects others. He accused the current government of following the path of the ousted Awami League administration, saying: “We can see that the current government is also following the path of fascism.” He urged the authorities to refrain from such actions, warning that the people of Bangladesh would not tolerate it.

The opposition leader said parties should support the government when it acts correctly but must resist and protest if it violates rights or takes the wrong course.

On the country’s image, Shafiqur Rahman noted that a nation’s standing is partly measured by its passport and linked a country’s reputation to the character of its people. 

He expressed disappointment over the current status of Bangladesh’s passport and said successive governments had repeatedly distorted history without fully breaking the practice.

Jamaat leader also called on citizens to visit the July Memorial Museum, alleging that records of past tortures and political incidents had been removed “to please a specific country.”