Leader of the Opposition and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Tuesday said people did not shed blood during the July Uprising for the benefit of looters and extortionists, warning that the public would not tolerate looting, extortion, injustice and oppression.

“The students and the people did not shed their blood in the July Uprising for the looters and extortionists. The people will in no way tolerate looting, extortion, injustice and oppression. In the future, every single crime will have to be accounted for,” he said.

Shafiqur was addressing a conference of former Sathi (associate) and Sodosya (members) of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, organised by Chattogram city Jamaat at the GEC Convention Centre in the port city, according to a press release.

He said those who oppressed people, deprived them of their rights or usurped what rightfully belong to others will have to answer for their actions.

The opposition leader said the responsibility of the Islamic movement must be carried out throughout one's life, recalling what he described as various forms of oppression and persecution faced by Jamaat over the past 17 years.

He alleged that 12 top leaders of the party were “killed” after being subjected to what he called some of the worst accusations of the century.

“No one will escape accountability for wrongdoing. Everyone will have to answer for their own actions,” Shafiqur said.

Addressing the former Shibir associates and members, he urged them to earn their livelihoods through lawful means and maintain honesty and morality in their lives.

The Jamaat chief said some statements were being made at the highest levels of the country that were baseless and irrelevant, but the party has no time to respond to such remarks.

Instead of engaging in a war of words, he urged them to earn people's trust through their ideology, morality and actions.

“Islam will be established in this country, and a Bangladesh based on justice will be built,” Shafiqur said.

Shibir President Nurul Islam Saddam, Jamaat Assistant Secretary Generals Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad and Muhammad Shahjahan, Dhaka South city Jamaat Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul, MP, Dhaka North city unit Ameer Muhammad Selim Uddin, Shahjahan Chowdhury, MP, and Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) General Secretary SM Farhad, among others, addressed the conference presided over by Chattogram city Jamaat Ameer Muhammad Nazrul Islam.