He said, “We will not give unemployment allowance to the youth. Youth, what do you want? You want work. Insha Allah, we will provide you work. We do not want to insult our youth by giving unemployment allowance. Our July fighters never marched demanding unemployment benefits; they demanded right employment. We promise that whoever is suitable for a particular job, regardless of caste, race, religion or gender, will be given that job, Insha Allah.”
Shafiqur Rahman further said, “In a Bangladesh based on justice and fairness, we may not be able to pay equal wages to all people serving the state in all professions – government, semi-government, private or autonomous institutions. But the government will be obliged to provide fair remuneration according to the dignity and status of each individual. We want them to live with dignity and serve the country by fully realizing their potential.”
Vowing to build a united Bangladesh, he said, “This nation will no longer cut itself apart because of old grievances. We will not allow anyone to divide the country again. ‘United Nations, United Bangladesh’ – this is our slogan. Insha Allah, we will move forward with this.”
“This time two votes are needed for justice. There is a referendum. What will you say in the referendum? ‘Yes’ means independence; ‘No’ means subordination. Insha Allah, the first vote on the 12th will be ‘Yes’, and ‘Yes’ will prevail all along. The second vote is for a Bangladesh of justice and fairness. We pray to Almighty Allah that on the 13th this country will be reborn as a new nation.”