The top leader of the Islamist party, who held the position of assistant secretary general, issued a media statement after sending his letter of resignation from the UK to the Jamaat-e-Islami chief Maqbul Ahmed.
Five days after the 2013 execution of Abdul Quader Molla, a war criminal and Jamaat leader better known as the ‘Butcher of Mirpur’, Razzaq left Bangladesh. A British citizen, he has since been living in London.
His letter sent to the Jamaat chief on Friday was confirmed to bdnews24.com by his eldest son Ehsan Siddiq.
“Over the last three decades I have been trying relentlessly to persuade Jamaat to have a frank discussion of the events of 1971, Jamaat’s role in those events and why it decided to supportPakistan and apologise for that decision,” Razzaq wrote in his letter.
He noted that all his efforts were unsuccessful and that as a result, “those who were born after 1971 and even the many unborn generations who may be associated with Jamaat in future will have to bear this burden".
The resignation letter also stated that he had tried to reform Jamaat “from within” ever since he joined the party that had actively opposed the 1971 Liberation War.
“And I have been continuously striving to achieve that for the last 30 years. I was for structural reform, and full and effective participation of women,” he said. “My reformist views are well known within the party.”
Jamaat was stripped of its registration with the Election Commission by a court that observed its failure to reform its charter in line with the Bangladesh constitution. As a result, the party members were not able to take part directly in the past two general elections.
In a rebuke to the Jamaat over it reluctance for reform, Razzaq said the young people of Bangladesh are “patriots” who are well-informed of developments in the national and international arena.
“Their potential may best be utilised through a democratic principled party adhering to Islamic values operating within the secular constitution of Bangladesh.
“The failure of Jamaat leadership to restructure the party has sadly convinced me that Jamaat will not be able to fulfil this role.”
Razzaq said he considered resigning before but his party's “latest refusal” convinced him to go through with the decision.
“I have been proven wrong. From now on, I wish to concentrate on my profession and hope to have the opportunity of contributing towards a prosperous Bangladesh."
There have been continual calls for trying Jamaat as a party for war crimes that include genocide. It was slapped with seven charges of war crimes by investigators of the International Crimes Tribunal in 2014.
As for the call to ban Jamaat, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently told parliament that the party would be outlawed much the same way as it was de-registered as a political party following a court battle.
The Supreme Court has so far convicted seven top leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami with five of them already executed since war crimes trial began in 2010.
In 1971, the Jamaat opposed the 11-point movement and other demands when the struggle for Bangladesh's independence reached its peak.
The party and its erstwhile student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha raised several groups such as the Razakar, Al-Badar, Al-Shams to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation force.
They engaged in mass killing, rape, torture, looting and other war crimes during the war.
A court verdict has termed Jamaat-e-Islami a ‘criminal party’ saying those against the independence of the country should not hold office in any organisation in the country.