Noman Sabit: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami made a ‘Bismillah blunder’ in New York. On Wednesday (October 22), during a views exchange meeting in New York, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman sought forgiveness for what he called 78 years of mistakes. Ironically, his party’s leaders and activists made a glaring error while writing the party’s name on the event banner-a mistake that did not go unnoticed.
Instead of ‘Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami,’ the banner read ‘Bangladeshe Jamaat Islami,’ a name that doesn’t exist. Neither the organizers, attendees, nor the journalists present seemed to notice the error. The blunder has since become a topic of amusement among Bangladeshi expatriates in the U.S.
During the event, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said the party was seeking unconditional forgiveness not only for its role in 1971 but for any mistakes made since the 1947 partition of India up to October 22, 2025. He made the statement on the first day of his weeklong U.S. visit during a meeting with journalists in New York.
He said, 'When ATM Azharul Islam was freed from jail recently, I said, ‘Not just for 1971, but from 1947 till now, if anyone has suffered or been harmed because of Jamaat-e-Islami, I seek unconditional forgiveness on behalf of every member and the organization. Please forgive us.’
Dr. Rahman added that Jamaat’s leadership during the Liberation War should have ‘respected the aspirations of independence’ of the Bangladeshi people, though he personally was not present then. Smiling and with folded hands, he said, ‘How can I say we’ve never made mistakes? We’re human. Our organization is run by humans. Even if 99 out of 100 decisions are right, one wrong decision can still harm the nation. And if any decision of ours has hurt the nation, what is wrong in seeking forgiveness?’
He continued, “Some people now say, ‘You didn’t ask in the right language.’ But we’ve asked unconditionally no conditions attached. So what else is left to say?'
This was not the first time Jamaat publicly sought forgiveness. On May 27 this year, following the acquittal of party leader ATM Azharul Islam in a war crimes case, Dr. Rahman apologized at a Dhaka press conference- though he avoided directly addressing the Liberation War.
In New York, Dr. Rahman went further, acknowledging Jamaat’s stance in 1971. ‘Yes, Jamaat did play a role in 1971. The party believed Pakistan should remain united. Many Awami League leaders were also working under the Pakistani government, drawing salaries and rations,’ he said. ‘That was the reality then.’
He claimed that Pakistan’s flag was flying over ‘90 percent of Bangladesh’ until December 14, 1971. 'Up to that point, everyone worked under Pakistan. You can say it went against popular aspirations- yes, it did. It would have been better if Jamaat had respected that aspiration.
However, he added, ‘I’m not the right person to answer why they didn’t. Only the leaders who made those decisions can explain.’
He reminded the audience that past Jamaat leaders including Professor Ghulam Azam and Motiur Rahman Nizami had apologized before. ‘And today, once again, I say openly from 1947 to October 22, 2025, whoever has suffered because of us, we seek unconditional forgiveness whether it’s an individual or the whole nation.’
On Bangladesh’s future, Dr. Rahman said, ‘If we ever get the chance to lead the country, it will not be like Afghanistan, Iran, Indonesia, or Pakistan. It will be Bangladesh — Insha’Allah. A country rooted in our culture and unity, where religion or politics will no longer divide the nation.’
Speaking about India, he said, ‘You can move homes, but you can’t change your neighbor. We want mutual respect with India. They are 26 times bigger, but our small country with 118 million people deserves respect too. Only then can both nations live peacefully and earn global dignity together.’
Regarding Jamaat’s strained ties with the BNP, Dr. Rahman noted that while the two parties had a long alliance including participation in Khaleda Zia’s 2001 government — “times have changed.'
He said, 'We’re separate parties. They’re reaching the people with their program, and we’re doing the same. We’ll cooperate in what’s good for the nation but will speak out if anything harms it.
When asked whether he would meet U.S. policymakers during his trip, Dr. Rahman replied briefly, ‘That’s secret.’
The views exchange was organized by the Coalition of Bangladeshi American Associations (COBA) and conducted by Jamaat’s U.S. coordinator, Nakibur Rahman, at the World’s Fair Marina Party Hall in Queens. Jamaat supporters and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora were in attendance.
Nakibur Rahman announced that Dr. Shafiqur Rahman would deliver a speech at a larger gathering of expatriates in New York on October 26.
BP/SM
