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Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case against former lawmaker and freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman and his release from custody.
He made the demand at a protest rally at the north gate of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka on Saturday (October 3), protesting Akhtaruzzaman’s arrest in connection with an alleged incident at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. A procession was held after the rally.
Parwar said the authorities had effectively acknowledged mismanagement at the airport by dismissing two officials following the October 1 incident.
“Akhtaruzzaman did the right thing by speaking out against the mismanagement. Yet a case has been filed against him. The false case must be withdrawn immediately, and the remand order must be cancelled and he must be released,” he said.
He said the incident had triggered widespread public anger and criticised the arrest and remand of a former MP and freedom fighter.
Parwar claimed that many lawmakers and other leaders had faced delays of several hours after arriving at the airport because of problems with luggage, Zamzam water and trolleys. He said expressing anger and strongly voicing concerns as a VIP passenger was a citizen’s right.
He also disputed allegations in the case that Akhtaruzzaman had assaulted or harassed airport officials, saying MP Kamal Hossain, who was present at the time, had stated that Akhtaruzzaman had not physically assaulted anyone. Parwar said video footage also supported their account.
Parwar further questioned why Akhtaruzzaman had been made to wear a helmet while being taken into custody, arguing that he had voluntarily accompanied police from his home.
He also criticised recent comments by government ministers and lawmakers about Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir, including references to the organisations as “secret” groups.
Referring to the past political alliance between BNP and Jamaat, Parwar questioned why such characterisations were being made now.
He also alleged that recent rhetoric against Jamaat resembled that of the previous Awami League government and questioned whether there had been any “secret communication” with New Delhi.
Parwar said Jamaat would cooperate with the government if it took actions in the national interest and oppose measures it considered harmful to the country through democratic and constitutional means.