Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Ameer, Shafiqur Rahman, suddenly collapsed while delivering his speech during the party’s national rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday afternoon, prompting immediate concern among party leaders and supporters. He was later taken to Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi for medical evaluation.
The incident occurred midway through Jamaat’s “national assembly,” organized around a seven-point demand, including calls for justice for all state-led atrocities and a return to Proportional Representation (PR) in electoral politics. Shafiqur Rahman fell unconscious on the stage during his speech, alarming those present. Though he managed to regain his footing briefly and resumed speaking, he collapsed again moments later.
In a display of determination, the Jamaat chief continued delivering his speech while seated on the stage, extending his legs and addressing the crowd for nearly ten minutes. His remarks concluded the rally, after which he was promptly transported by ambulance to the hospital.
Later that evening, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir visited Shafiqur Rahman at Ibn Sina Hospital to inquire about his health. Fakhrul was accompanied by BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan. At the hospital, Fakhrul sat beside the Jamaat leader and spoke to him directly, expressing concern and solidarity.
Also present during the visit were Jamaat-e-Islami’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher and Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar.
Speaking to reporters, Shafiqur Rahman’s personal assistant, Nazrul Islam, confirmed the leader had been admitted for precautionary checks and was currently stable. “He is doing well,” he said.
This event marked a rare public intersection of top leadership between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami—two parties that once formed a major political alliance—amid increasing political mobilization in the aftermath of the July Uprising.
Gonotaar will continue monitoring developments regarding the health of Shafiqur Rahman and the political implications of this growing opposition momentum.
