POBNEWS24, Dhaka Oct 24, 2025 : Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has said that if his party comes to power, relations with India will be guided by mutual respect.
“People may change their place, but they cannot change their neighbours. We aim to respect our neighbours and expect the same in return,” he said.
He made these remarks on Wednesday evening (US local time) during a view-exchange meeting in New York, held on the first day of his week-long visit to the United States, in response to questions about Bangladesh-India relations.
Dr. Rahman acknowledged India’s vast size, wealth, and manpower, noting, “India is 26 times larger than Bangladesh. We respect them considering their position. However, they must also respect our small territory and the existence of about 18 crore people. This is our demand. If mutual respect prevails, the two neighbours will not only enjoy better relations but also gain recognition in the world stage.”
On ensuring the rights of people of different religions, he said that their actions over the past one and a half years demonstrate their stance.
Over the last 54 years, people of various religions, including Muslims, have migrated from Bangladesh, he said.
“We oppose forcibly closing any institutions or expelling anyone from the country,” he said.
Dr. Rahman rejected the majority-minority narrative, saying, “We say, we need unity.”
Emphasizing majority and minority creates divisions and pits one group against another, he said, “We have witnessed the horrors of this for 54 years and do not want it to happen again.”
He continued that they aim to re-establish the tradition of living together, built over generations through culture, heritage, and civilization.
“Insha Allah, we will remove the few black spots that have emerged so the nation is no longer divided by party or religion,” he stated.
Regarding property rights, he said, “If evidence shows someone has illegally occupied another’s property in the last 54 years, we support returning it. This is our position.”
Bangladeshi journalists based in New York attended the meeting.
