Former BNP lawmaker Akhtaruzzaman joins Jamaat, calls it a ‘patriotic political party’

He says he joined Jamaat to protest the BNP’s "practice of lying"

Freedom fighter and former BNP lawmaker Akhtaruzzaman has described the Jamaat-e-Islami as a “patriotic party” after joining the party.

The retired Army major made the comments in a telephone interview with bdnews24.com on Saturday.

Asked why he had joined Jamaat, he criticised statements by BNP leaders about the party’s role during the 1971 Liberation War.

“There is no consistency in what the BNP says. [BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman] has said the Jamaat-e-Islami killed hundreds of thousands of people during the Liberation War. The statement is not correct. We fought the Liberation War against the Pakistani army -- we didn't fight it against Jamaat,” said Akhtaruzzaman.

He said his decision to join Jamaat was a protest against what he described as the BNP's "practice of lies".

“Jamaat is not an anti-state party. Jamaat-e-Islami is a patriotic party. It recognises the Liberation War, and this is clearly stated in its constitution as well,” he added.

Akhtaruzzaman was elected twice to parliament from the Kishoreganj-2 constituency as a BNP candidate. He was expelled from the BNP on three occasions over his criticism of the party’s top brass.

In 1991, Akhtaruzzaman said he had opposed the BNP forming an alliance with Jamaat but his request fell on deaf ears.

He said the BNP formed an alliance with Jamaat once again later, even though the party had allied with the Awami League in 1996 against the BNP. The BNP even formed a government with Jamaat.

Over the last 15 years, he said the government of Sheikh Hasina had persecuted Jamaat leaders more than any other party.

“Some of the party’s leaders were even executed. Like the BNP, Jamaat was targeted by repression and false cases,” he said.

Akhtaruzzaman also accused BNP of sowing division among political parties in the post-Aug 5 political landscape.

Questioning what the point of arguing is if the war was not against Jamaat in 1971, he said: “It’s good that the BNP is talking about the Liberation War. I am a freedom fighter as well.”

He asked the BNP to explain whose interests the party was serving by speaking against Jamaat.

“I don’t understand why BNP leaders are so desperate about going to power,” he said.

Akhtaruzzaman completed the party’s associate membership process after meeting Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman at its office in the capital’s Moghbazar.

He fought during the Liberation War in Sector 3.