Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafikur Rahman has described the 2024 student-led mass uprising as a “rehearsal” rather than a “final war”, while accusing the current government of following a path towards fascism and calling for a change in that course.
He made the remarks on Sunday (23 August) at the Diploma Engineers Institution Bangladesh (IDEB) auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, where he attended a discussion meeting and prize-giving ceremony organised to mark Seerat-un-Nabi (PBUH). The event was centred on the theme, ‘The Prophet’s Principles and Ideals in State Reform’, and included an essay competition.
Recalling the events of 2024, Dr Shafikur urged people not to regard the student-people’s uprising as the final stage of political change. He said the movement should instead be viewed as a rehearsal for what may lie ahead.
“The awakened people of 2024 have not disappeared,” he said, stressing that those who participated in the movement and sought change remain alert and are continuing to watch developments in the country.
The Jamaat chief also spoke at length about what he described as the dangers of fascism. He argued that fascism should not be regarded as the property of any particular political party or organisation. Rather, he described it as a “contagious disease” that can affect anyone or any political force when authoritarian tendencies take hold.
Against that backdrop, he called for changes to the current political process and warned against allowing the country to move towards another form of authoritarian rule. His comments came as political parties and other groups continue to debate how Bangladesh should be governed following the mass movement of 2024 and what reforms are necessary to prevent a recurrence of authoritarian politics.
Referring to the fall of the previous government, Dr Shafikur said historical experience showed that those who leave a country after losing power do not easily return. He did not elaborate on the specific historical examples behind the claim.
He also alleged that a number of important memories and materials related to the 2024 movement had been removed from the ‘July Mass Uprising Museum’ in an attempt to please a particular foreign country. The allegation was made during his speech, although he did not provide specific evidence or identify the materials he claimed had been removed.
The 2024 uprising remains a major reference point in Bangladesh’s recent political discourse. The movement, which began with student protests and later developed into a broader mass mobilisation, ultimately led to the fall of the then government. Its aftermath has since fuelled discussions over institutional reform, accountability, democratic governance and the future direction of the state.
Turning to the broader question of social change, Dr Shafikur said a wave of transformation was sweeping across societies around the world. He called on Bangladeshis to unite in building what he described as an equitable and humane society.
The discussion also placed emphasis on the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), particularly their relevance to questions of governance and state reform. Dr Shafikur argued that principles of justice, humanity and fairness should guide efforts to reshape the country’s political and social institutions.
His remarks combined a warning against the return of authoritarian politics with a call for wider political and social reform, while presenting the 2024 uprising as an unfinished chapter rather than the endpoint of Bangladesh’s struggle for change.
