Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, recently appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the 13th National Parliament, was seen taking part in a street-cleaning initiative in Sylhet, holding a broom and joining local residents in clearing roadside waste.
Speaking during the event, Rahman emphasized that the symbolic act of cleaning streets reflects a broader political vision.
“We want to remove all forms of ‘garbage’ from the country through state reform,” he said. “We aim to build a clean nation. If each of us cleans our own surroundings, the country will automatically become clean.”
Reference to July Political Shift
Rahman also referenced the political transformation that followed the events of July last year, saying that without those developments, the current political landscape would have been different.
“If July had not happened, Tarique Rahman would not have become Prime Minister. I would not have become the Leader of the Opposition,” he stated. “It is our collective responsibility to implement the spirit of July within Parliament.”
His remarks appear to underline the broader reform agenda that has shaped the current government and parliamentary configuration.
Opposition Leadership Confirmed
It is worth noting that Shafiqur Rahman was formally elected as Leader of the Opposition in the 13th National Parliament during a parliamentary party meeting held after the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members on Tuesday.
Earlier that day, Jamaat-e-Islami Members of Parliament took their oath around 12:30 PM. Later, members from the NCP (National Citizen Party) were also sworn in.
In addition to their parliamentary oath, members of the 11-party electoral alliance also took oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
The street-cleaning appearance of the opposition leader has drawn public attention, with supporters describing it as a symbolic gesture aligned with the broader reform narrative currently shaping national politics.
