RANGPUR, Jan 24, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said even after 54 years, the people have not tasted independence.   “Thousands of people have been killed like animals during every Awami League regime. Army and BDR have been destroyed. The country has been divided on the basis of religion. The innocents have been oppressed and their wealth has been looted,” he said.   Dr Shafiqur Rahman said this while speaking as the chief guest at a street rally, held at Mirbag Degree College ground in Kawnia upazila of Rangpur on Friday night.   Although the street rally was called, a large crowd braving the fog and dew like rain rushed there turning the Mirbag Degree College ground into a sea of people.   The Jamaat Chief said that the fascist Awami League regime committed three major atrocities against the people of Rangpur.   “The previous fascist regime did not prosecute the Felani murder, killed indiscriminately youths, including icon of the students-people uprising Abu Sayeed, and kept the oppressed people's leader ATM Azaharul Islam in prison for 16 long years in the name of trial in a false case,” he said.   He warned, “Without making any further delay, immediately return oppressed leader ATM Azaharul Islam to the people. Otherwise, we will be forced to take to the streets.”   Dr Shafiqur Rahman said thousands of fresh lives like Abu Sayeed have shed their blood to confront and resist the fascists who oppressed the nation. The nation has seen a procession of corpses across the country and many of them have been martyred or permanently disabled, he added.     “In exchange for their pure sacrifice and lives, the fascist murderers have been driven away. Hundreds of youth have become blind and disabled,” he said.     The Jamaat Ameer said that the struggle to build a discrimination-free society will continue until the cause for which the martyrs of the July-August Revolution sacrificed their lives was achieved.   Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Central Assistant Secretary General and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Director Moulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee Member and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Assistant Director Principal Moulana Mamtaz Uddin, Central Working Committee Member and Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Team Member Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal were present as special guests at the rally.   With Jamaat-e-Islami Kawnia Upazila Ameer Moulana Abdus Salam in the chair, Jamaat-e-Islami Rangpur Metropolitan Ameer Vice-principal Moulana ATM Azam Khan, District Ameer Professor Golam Rabbani, District Secretary Moulana Enamul Haque, General Secretary of the Central Committee of Bangladesh Land Port Workers’ Union and Assistant Regional Director of Bangladesh Workers’ Welfare Federation Rangpur-Dinajpur Region Professor Abul Hashem Badal , District President of the Adarsha Teachers’ Federation Principal Abdul Gani, Jamaat leader Mostaq Ahmed, Pirgachha Upazila Ameer Bazlur Rashid Mukul among others, attended the rally.  

RANGPUR, Jan 24, 2025 (BSS) - Language movement veteran and popular BNP leader Ashraf Hossain Barada passed away while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital at 7:15 pm on Thursday.   He was 85.   Ashraf Hossain Barada was one of the soldiers of the language movement and former convener of Rangpur district BNP.    He is survived by a daughter and numerous admirers, relatives and well-wishers.    The Namaj-e-Janaza of the deceased was held at the Guptapara Jam-e-Mosque in the city after Juma prayers today. Later, his body was buried at the Nurpur Graveyard in the city.    The funeral prayers were attended by BNP Central Organizing Secretary (Rangpur Division) Principal Asadul Habib Dulu, its Joint Organizing Secretary Abdul Khalek, Rangpur Metropolitan BNP Convener Shamsuzzaman Samu, Member Secretary Advocate Mahfuz Un Nabi Don, Rangpur District BNP Member Secretary Anisur Rahman Laku, Rangpur District Jubo Dal President Nazmul Alam Nazu, leaders of various political parties and people from different walks of life.    Meanwhile, the leaders of BNP, Jamaat, National Citizen Committee, Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, Jatiya Party, JSD, BSD, CPB and various political, social and professional organizations have expressed deep sorrow over the death of language soldier and former convener of Rangpur district BNP, veteran politician Ashraf Hossain Baroda.    According to family sources, Ashraf Hossain Barada got involved in the language movement in 1952 while he was in the eighth grade of Lalmonirhat High School.    He was inspired by a writing of Professor Dr Muhammad Shahidullah. Then, with the closeness of progressive teacher Santosh Guha and the inspiration of poet Shah Amanat Ali, he participated in the movement.    This language veteran, who did not personally dream for any state recognition, wanted the 'language aggression' to stop.     Ashraf Hossain went into hiding in 1954 due to his involvement in the language movement.    Later, he started living permanently in Guptapara area of Rangpur city from 1955.    Although he did not directly participate in the Liberation War, he stood by the freedom fighters in the Pirganj area of Rangpur.    After independence, Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani gave him the responsibility of organizing the National Awami Party in 1972.    Later, he was elected the central Vice-President of the Bangladesh Workers Federation in 1973 and he formed the United People's Party.    As the central Vice-President of this party, he joined the 7-party alliance of former Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and played a leading role in increasing the salaries and allowances of teachers.    When the alliance broke up, he joined BNP and became the Vice-President and later, convener of Rangpur district BNP in 1997. He retired from politics in 2010.