The leader of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dr Shafiqur Rahman, has pledged to recover billions in laundered assets and redirect the funds into the state treasury to drive national development. Addressing a major rally in Patuakhali, he vowed to end decades of “corruption and fascism” by establishing a governance model built on transparency and the rule of law.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has declared that the recovery of illicitly transferred national wealth will be a cornerstone of his party’s governance if they are successful in the upcoming elections. Speaking on Friday as the chief guest at a large-scale election rally at the Bauphal Upazila Public Field in Patuakhali, Dr Shafiqur outlined a plan to utilise these recovered funds to transform the nation’s most impoverished regions.
The rally was held to support Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud, the 11-party alliance candidate for the Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal) constituency. Addressing the crowd, Dr Shafiqur estimated that approximately Tk 28 lakh crore has been looted and laundered out of Bangladesh, significantly crippling the domestic economy. He promised that under his leadership, these funds would be returned to the state treasury to initiate a new era of infrastructure and social growth.
Reflecting on the 54 years since Bangladesh gained independence, the Jamaat chief was critical of successive political systems. He argued that the public has been consistently offered little more than corruption, extortion, “case-trading”, and what he described as a culture of fascism and impunity.
“If we are given the opportunity, our hands will be completely clean,” Dr Shafiqur stated, asserting that his party remains untainted by the systemic extortion that has plagued national politics. He further emphasised a zero-tolerance policy towards the exploitation of the legal system, vowing that “case-trading”—where legal charges are used for political or financial leverage—would be permanently abolished.
Jamaat Ameer’s speech also focused heavily on financial sector integrity. He cautioned that the era of “looting banks” to achieve political status was coming to an end. He specifically mentioned that stock market manipulation and the theft of funds from major national projects would no longer be tolerated under a “New Bangladesh” framework.
The event, presided over by Bauphal Upazila Jamaat Ameer Maulana Ishaq, also featured speeches from prominent alliance figures, including Assistant Secretary Advocate Moazzem Hossain Helal. The speakers collectively called for a shift towards a welfare-orientated state that prioritises the needs of the oppressed over the interests of the political elite.
As the election campaign intensifies, Dr Shafiqur’s focus on the recovery of laundered money signals a strategic move to appeal to voters frustrated by economic instability and the rising cost of living attributed to financial mismanagement.
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