Jamaat nationwide protests for ATM Azahrul’s release
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s major Islamist political party, held nationwide demonstrations on Tuesday, demanding the unconditional release of its Assistant Secretary General, ATM Azahrul Islam. The protests, attended by tens of thousands of leaders and activists, took place across all districts and metropolitan cities.
In Dhaka, the party’s Metropolitan North and South units organized a demonstration followed by a procession that moved through several key thoroughfares in the capital.
Witnesses reported that it was Jamaat’s largest demonstration in decades, causing major traffic congestion and bringing parts of Dhaka to a standstill for nearly an hour, leading to significant public inconvenience.
Before the demonstration commenced, Jamaat Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman addressed a briefed rally at Paltan intersection at around 4:50 PM. He reiterated the party’s stance that protests would continue until ATM Azahrul Islam was released.
“We are decent people, but no one should mistake our decency for weakness. The nation has seen what happens when decent people rise with strength,” he stated. Expressing hope that the government would act wisely, he added, “One by one, you have freed the oppressed-release the last one as well. Those who have disappeared cannot be brought back, but we do not want Azahrul to remain in jail for even 13 more minutes.”
ATM Azahrul Islam was sentenced to death during the Awami League’s rule for crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. However, Jamaat-e-Islami has strongly rejected the verdict, calling it controversial and politically motivated.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman accused the ruling party of targeting Jamaat-e-Islami through fascist policies. “During that period, ATM Azahrul took responsibility. Though Bangladesh has been freed from fascism, its first victim, ATM Azahrul, has yet to be released,” he claimed.
He further declared that the protests would persist indefinitely, stating, “From today, our protests have no beginning and no end until he is released.”
Jamaat’s chief also reiterated that the party had never compromised, even in dire circumstances. “Even when facing the gallows, our leaders did not bow to anyone. Many suggested negotiations for their release, but they stood firm,” he asserted.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman also demanded the reinstatement of Jamaat-e-Islami’s registration and electoral symbol, which were revoked by the government. “Oppressors revoked our registration.
Will you also continue this injustice? We will not tolerate any more discrimination,” he warned.
As the demonstrations concluded, Jamaat leaders affirmed their commitment to intensifying their movement until their demands were met, setting the stage for continued political unrest in the coming days.
Azharul, a stalwart of opposition party Jamaat-e-Islami, was sentenced to death in 2014. In 2019, the apex court upheld the death sentence against the Islamist leader rejecting an appeal by the 73-year-old in a majority verdict. His death sentence, however, is yet to be executed.