STAR REPORT

Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman yesterday said the party did not seek to provoke conflict but warned that if attacked, they would retaliate.

“We do not want to provoke conflict by stepping on anyone’s toes, but if someone comes to attack us, we will not let them go.”

He made the remarks while addressing an election rally at the Khulna Circuit House ground yesterday.

He alleged that a “so-called friendly” political organisation was distributing family cards on one hand while assaulting women on the other.

“I call upon those who have disrespected mothers to offer an apology. Place your trust in the people’s verdict. Those who failed to do so in the past did not meet a good end.”

Earlier in the day, Shafiqur addressed a rally at the Eidgah ground in Jashore, where he spoke of ending what he described as dynasty-based politics and building a new political culture in the country.

“If Jamaat comes to power, there will be no dynasty politics in Bangladesh.”

Hinting at the BNP, he said parties that failed to control their own activists would not be able to govern the country. “Restore discipline within your party first. If you need our cooperation, we will provide it. We stand for truth, justice and a new Bangladesh.”

Referring to the victories of Jamaat-backed Chhatra Shibir candidates in the recent student union elections at public universities, Shafiqur said young voters had delivered their verdict in favour of justice and a new Bangladesh.

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