Jamaat accepted its ’71 stance as wrong, says Law Minister

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said that Jamaat-e-Islami has effectively accepted, through the parliamentary process, the historical position that its role and stance during the Liberation War in 1971 were wrong.

He made the observation on Friday at the launching ceremony of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami: Its History and Politics, authored by Barrister Abdur Razzaq, a former Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami. It was published by University Press Limited (UPL).

Barrister Abdur Razzaq had urged Jamaat to apologise to the nation for its role in the crimes committed during 1971, a position examined in detail in his book. Referring to the issue, Asaduzzaman observed that had Jamaat accepted Razzaq's position in 2016, many questions surrounding the party could have been settled much earlier.

Referring to the National Freedom Fighters Council Act, 2022 and its subsequent amendments, he said the legislation incorporates the historical position that Jamaat-e-Islami opposed the people of Bangladesh who fought for independence in 1971.

Explaining the statutory definition of a freedom fighter, Asaduzzaman said, "The definition states that those who struggled for the country's independence in 1971 by opposing the Pakistan Army, Pakistani occupation forces, Razakars, Al-Badr, Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim League and the Nizam-e-Islami Party are Freedom Fighters."

"Jamaat demanded that their name be removed from that list. We replied that we cannot deny historical truth," he added.

According to Asaduzzaman, the parliamentary process bears particular significance in light of Razzaq's 2016 position. "By participating in the parliamentary process and refraining from casting a 'no' vote, Jamaat indirectly acknowledged that role from 1971. This is where Mr Razzaq's foresight becomes evident," he said.