Jamaat leader, ‘war criminal’ Azharul’s inclusion in parliament presidium insults 1971 martyrs: Jukto Front

The past interim government rehabilitated convicted war criminal Azharul, the organisation says

The Ganatantrik Jukto Front has demanded the immediate removal of Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Amir ATM Azharul Islam from the presidium, a panel of five members nominated on Thursday to conduct parliamentary sessions in the absence of the speaker and deputy speaker in the 13th parliament.

In a statement issued Friday, the political alliance also called for the withdrawal of the names of convicted 1971 war criminals from the condolence motion adopted during the parliament's first session on the same day.

The coalition also described the inclusion of Azharul in the presidium as an "insult to the martyrs" and the dignity of the House.

While Azharul was acquitted by the Appellate Division during the interim government's tenure, the front referred to the move as the "rehabilitation of war criminals".

"The events of the first session are a blatant betrayal of the Liberation War and the blood of 30 lakh martyrs," the statement said.

The front also demanded punitive action against lawmakers who refused to stand during the national anthem.

The statement noted that several Jamaat MPs remained seated while the anthem played at the start of the president's speech on Thursday, calling the act as "tantamount to sedition" and a display of contempt for national dignity.

The alliance expressed "shame" that the chief whip of the ruling BNP proposed names of convicted war criminals in the obituary reference. The list included six Jamaat leaders and one BNP leader previously convicted of crimes against humanity.

"The July-August uprising was against fascist misrule and discrimination, not for the rehabilitation of those who aided the Pakistani occupiers in 1971," the statement said.