Staff Correspondent

BNP senior leader Maj (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed on Thursday slammed Jamaat-e-Islami for what he said its efforts to justify its role in 1971 instead of offering an apology in the current political changeover following the July mass uprising.

"An opportunity has now arisen (after the July mass uprising), and we’ve hoped that, with this scope, they (Jamaat) would apologise to the people for their role in 1971. Instead of doing that, they are trying to justify their role and have appeared as patriots," he said during a discussion.

Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters' wing of BNP, organised a programme titled 'The 1971 Liberation War is the greatest pride of the nation in a thousand years' at the Jatiya Press Club.

Hafiz, a BNP standing committee member, said an attempt is being made by certain quarters to overshadow the country's Liberation War with the mass uprising.

“We cannot compare anything with the Liberation War. The 1971 Liberation War will remain above all things forever. We will not allow stigmatising the liberation war, and we do not expect the Liberation War to be divided,” he said.

The BNP leader criticised Jamaat’s chief for his recent statement claiming that only the army and Jamaat-e-Islami are patriots, which he said had hurt the feelings of freedom fighters and BNP leaders and workers.

“The Bangladesh Army fought in the Liberation War, and it was a force built through the Liberation War. It was formed under the leadership of Major Ziaur Rahman with soldiers and officers from the then East Bengal Regiment,” he said.

Hafiz said BNP always considered Jamaat as an ally and conveyed sympathy when the fascist Awami League regime persecuted them.

When Jamaat was not allowed to take part in the elections, he said BNP gave the party a chance to participate in the polls using its symbol, the 'Sheaf of Paddy'.

The BNP leader recalled that their party chief Khaleda Zia had given Jamaat a place in her cabinet. “Many of us did not like it, but accepted it for the sake of party discipline. Is it right for them (Jamaat) to make such remarks in return? We do not expect such statements from them,” he said.

He warned that such remarks from Jamaat could create divisions in the strong unity that had been forged among the people following the July mass uprising.

Hafiz urged Jamaat leaders to be more cautious in making political statements in the future.

He said that while Jamaat might think it is now capable of contesting the elections independently, it should allow the people to judge its position. “There will be no test of your standing with the people if there is no election.”

Hafiz, a former minister, however, said BNP wants Jamaat and other pro-democratic parties to remain united.

He said BNP Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, also supports unity among democratic political parties.

“Now the misdeeds of the autocratic Awami League have been covered up. Various quarters and newspapers now want to see if there is any conflict between BNP and Jamaat. I would like to say that BNP is the most popular party in Bangladesh. We do not mind anyone's trivial talk,” the BNP leader said.

Hafiz also urged the interim government to understand that the more the election is delayed, the easier it will be for Sheikh Hasina to hatch plots.

He said many advisers' faces turn black with dissatisfaction when BNP leaders talk about the next election. “Why do you fear the people so much? People will vote. Why is it the cause of your fear? Leave this elitism. We want this state to be run based on the people’s opinion. Don’t take more time in the name of reforms.”