No majority-minority divide: Bangladesh Jamaat chief amid attacks on Hindus

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said he does not believe in the majority-minority divide, asserting that all citizens are equal under a unified Bangladeshi identity.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said he does not believe in the term “minority” and asserted that all people in the country are Bangladeshi citizens.

Amid rising concerns over the safety of the Hindu community in Bangladesh, Rahman told India Today that dividing people on the basis of religion creates division. “Just upon the basis of religion, it's bad practice because nation become divided and people become face to face. Rather, we are interested in seeing our people totally united and integrated. This is our stance. So we never admit any majority or minority in my country,” he said.

When asked about concerns among the Hindu community, Rahman said his party wants to move beyond the past.

“But we want to draw the end of previous history. And we will work together, we will move together,” he said.

On what Jamaat-e-Islami would focus on if it comes to power, Rahman said the emphasis would be on national identity.

“Only Bangladeshi identity. Nothing more. And you people who will come here as a guest. We will try to give you the due honour to the guest. And the security for every citizen of this country. Equal security. Yes, equal right and equal security,” he said.