Dr Shafiqul Islam Masud, secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dhaka Metropolitan South unit and MP for Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal), has said the arrest of freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman handcuffed and insulted the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
He was speaking at a protest rally organised by Jamaat’s Dhaka Metropolitan unit at the north gate of the Baitul Mokarram national mosque after the Zuhr prayer on Saturday.
“You did not handcuff Akhtaruzzaman; you handcuffed the history of Bangladesh’s Liberation War. You did not put a helmet on, insult and humiliate the freedom fighter Akhtaruzzaman; you insulted and humiliated our history, the independence and Liberation War of 1971,” he said.
Criticising the government, he warned: “BNP, get ready: the people will put you on remand. You gave Major Akhtaruzzaman one day’s remand through a court acting on orders. The people will put you on remand in the streets day after day for your extortion and looting.”
Praising Akhtaruzzaman’s honesty and courage, Masud said that by arresting and remanding an outspoken, honest, dedicated freedom fighter who fought in the war, the BNP had shown its anti-Liberation War character.
He said Akhtaruzzaman had been arrested so quickly because he spoke out against mismanagement at the airport, passengers not getting trolleys and luggage, and irregularities over holy Zamzam water. He alleged that the injustice was meant to shield the real culprits and suppress people’s legitimate demands, and warned that unless it stopped, Jamaat would respond with a strong movement alongside the people.
Akhtaruzzaman was arrested on Friday in a case filed by an airport security officer, accusing him of creating disorder at Shahjalal International Airport, obstructing officials and assaulting an officer on duty.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report