Jamaat reminds BNP of past alliances
Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has called for consistency and political understanding among major parties, recalling periods of cooperation
between the BNP and Jamaat while responding to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent description of Jamaat and Shibir as “covert” groups.
Speaking at a rally at the North Gate of Baitul Mukarram National Mosque on Saturday, Porwar referred to the BNP’s efforts to secure Jamaat’s support to form the government in 1991.
“Didn’t you remember then that they were ‘clandestine’?” he asked, questioning the BNP’s present characterisation of Jamaat.
Porwar said the two parties had also worked together in street movements under the four-party, 18-party and 20-party alliances.
“Begum Khaleda Zia announced the programmes, and Shibir and Jamaat joined the streets and made sacrifices,” he said.
The remarks came at a rally protesting the arrest of former lawmaker Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman. Porwar demanded withdrawal of the case against him, cancellation of his remand and his immediate release.
He said Akhtaruzzaman had neither assaulted nor harassed anyone while protesting alleged mismanagement at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“As a senior citizen and passenger, he had the right to demand an explanation and protest against the mismanagement,” Porwar said.
He also questioned the decision to make Akhtaruzzaman wear a helmet after his arrest, saying the former lawmaker had voluntarily accompanied the Detective Branch.
“Is Major Akhtaruzzaman a notorious robber or a murderer? Did he steal something that he would flee?” he asked.
A Dhaka court on Saturday placed Akhtaruzzaman on one-day remand in a case filed over alleged assault of an on-duty security official, obstruction of government work and disorder at the airport. Police had sought five days’ remand.
On Jamaat’s position during the 1971 Liberation War, Porwar acknowledged that members of the party at the time had supported a united Pakistan.
“It is true that those who were members of Jamaat-e-Islami at that time in 1971 had a position in favour of a united Pakistan,” he said.
He, however, rejected allegations that Jamaat-e-Islami had been involved in genocide.
Porwar accused the BNP of adopting what he described as the Awami League’s narrative by referring to Jamaat as “clandestine”, “anti-liberation” and “genocidal”.
“You did not say these things before the ’24 revolution. After the Awami League left, you are now speaking the Awami League’s language and calling us Razakars and an anti-liberation group,” he said.
Addressing Tarique Rahman, Porwar asked: “Have you become a wiser leader than your father and mother, who never said such things?”
His remarks come amid renewed political differences between the BNP and Jamaat, despite their history of cooperation in earlier anti-government movements.
