Ameer-e-Jamaat Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has stated that he will apologize to the nation if any wrongdoing by his party during the 1971 Liberation War is proven beyond doubt. His remarks came as part of an ongoing effort to address historical issues related to Jamaat's role in the war.
Speaking to journalists in East London on Tuesday (London local time), Dr. Shafiqur Rahman said, "If Jamaat-e-Islami made any mistakes in 1971 and this is clearly proven, I will apologize to the nation."
In response to a question regarding his personal involvement in the 1971 conflict, Shafiqur Rahman reiterated his willingness to apologize if proven wrong, while expressing frustration over the ongoing trials related to the war crimes tribunal. Referring to the British court's verdict in the case of Chowdhury Mainuddin, he stated, “The verdict was labeled as ‘genocide of justice,’ and for 15 years, we were denied the right to office, speech, and rallies. We were unable to communicate with the nation through the media.”
He also called for the recognition of the victims of the 24th uprising as "national heroes," emphasizing that people from all walks of life participated in the movement. "Even those outside the country fought with us, in their own ways. We thank them all and honor the sacrifices of the martyrs," he added.
Dr. Shafiqur also praised the significant contributions of expatriates to Bangladesh, particularly through remittances, and encouraged them to send “intellectual remittances” to help with the country's intellectual development. "Expatriates can play a crucial role in building a better Bangladesh by supporting intellectual growth alongside financial remittances," he said.
On the subject of corruption, the Jamaat leader criticized the previous government for its failure to deliver on development promises, citing examples of inflated project costs and delayed completion dates. "Development projects in our country are often completed at three times the cost compared to other countries in our region. This corruption has looted the country and left it destitute," he said.
Jamaat Ameer also said that corruption has hindered the nation’s progress. "We have not progressed as a nation due to ethnic disunity and rampant corruption. The UK has become globally respected partly because it has maintained low levels of corruption. Unfortunately, we have failed to do the same. A society cannot be clean if those in power are not clean," he noted.
The event, attended by prominent figures, also featured a recitation from the holy Quran by Imam Uddin and a patriotic song by singer Kamal Hossain. Barrister Abu Bakr Molla, the spokesperson for Jamaat-e-Islami in Europe, was also present, alongside over fifty journalists from various Bengali media outlets in the UK.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
