Rizvi challenges Jamaat: Where did you fight in 1971?

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, posed a bold question to Jamaat-e-Islami, challenging their role during the 1971 Liberation War. 

Speaking at an event in Sylhet, Rizvi questioned the patriotism Jamaat claims and their contribution to the war.

He expressed surprise at Jamaat’s stance, saying, "I see a political party, and I am astonished that they claim to be the only patriots. The army, undoubtedly, is patriotic because their predecessors fought for this country’s freedom, risking their lives, and they declared independence. Whenever people were oppressed, the army has always stood with them. Even during the 24th uprising, the army played a key role."

He went further, directly asking Jamaat, 

"I want to ask this Islamist party, what role did you play in 1971? In which sector did you fight? Under which sector commander did you serve? Is no one else in this country a patriot except for your party? If you spread such confusion, people will only laugh at you."

Rizvi made these remarks during a special event organized by ‘Amra BNP Poribar,’ where a gift was presented to the family of young cricketer Iqbal Hossain Emon, who played in the Youth Asia Cup-winning team. 

The event took place at Humayun Rashid Chattar in Sylhet on Thursday morning.

In his speech, Rizvi also launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accusing her of tarnishing the legacy of Bangladesh‍‍`s hard-won independence.

He stated, "To secure her power, Sheikh Hasina has dishonored the independence gained through the sacrifice of 30 lakh martyrs and the suffering of 2 lakh women in 1971. Her actions are akin to the brutality of the Pakistani occupation forces. Because of her, M Ilias Ali is missing today. He took a stand for the country and protested against the Tipaimukh Dam by leading a long march. People say that’s why he was disappeared."

Rizvi then highlighted how BNP’s leader was treated unjustly: "Our leader was arrested and made ill. She had eye surgery before her arrest, yet she was kept in an old, dusty room which worsened her condition. But even after everything, BNP has never backed down from its struggle to restore democracy and free our leader."

He also honored the sacrifices made during the protests in July and August, saying, 

"I pay my respects to those children, workers, and ordinary people who gave their lives. Their killers need to be brought to justice, and the same goes for those who have sacrificed their lives for democracy over the past 15 years. They too deserve justice. Why shouldn‍‍`t they?"

Commenting on changes in the new school textbooks, Rizvi remarked, 

"We don‍‍`t oppose the curriculum changes that include the names of Sher-e-Bangla A.K. Fazlul Huq, Maulana Bhashani, Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy, and the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. That’s fine. But why isn’t there a chapter on the Liberation War, from the declaration of independence to the war itself? Ziaur Rahman not only declared independence but also fought against the Pakistanis, leading a battle where Pakistani Colonel Janjua was killed. Why is this history missing? There should be a chapter about the Liberation War for students in classes 3, 4, or 5, covering all these events, including the Mujibnagar government. This is a crucial part of our history, so why is it incomplete?"

Rizvi continued, "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led the autonomy movement, which set the stage for independence, but he did not specifically call for the Liberation War. That call was given by Ziaur Rahman. The war lasted for nine months, and that chapter must be included in the history books."

The event, organized by ‘Amra BNP Poribar,’ was chaired by Atikur Rahman Ruman and jointly conducted by Sylhet District BNP General Secretary Advocate Emran Ahmad Chowdhury, Metropolitan BNP General Secretary Imdad Hossain Chowdhury, and Qatar BNP President Shariful Haque Saju. BNP Standing Committee member Dr. A Z M Zahid Hossain attended as the chief guest.

Several key BNP leaders, including BNP Chairperson’s advisor Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Central Organizing Secretary G K Gaus, and Sylhet District BNP President Abdul Koyum Chowdhury, were also present at the event. During the program, two battery-operated auto-rickshaw keys were presented to the family of cricketer Iqbal Hossain Emon by the guests.