Jamaat’s statement on patriotism ‘ridiculous’

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday made an oblique reference to a recent statement by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on patriotism and termed it "ridiculous."

On December 23, speaking at an event in Rangpur, Jamaat Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman said there were only two tested patriotic forces in the country -- one is the army, the other is Jamaat-e-Islami.

Rizvi said the army is undoubtedly patriotic because of its vital role in the 1971 Liberation War and in the 2024 July uprising.

He then raised questions about the role of the "Islamist party" during the 1971 Liberation War.

"I want to ask the Islamist party about its role in 1971. In which sector did you fight, under which sector commander? Claiming to be the only patriotic party will make people laugh."

Rizvi made these remarks yesterday while speaking at an event at Humayun Rashid Chattar in Sylhet city.

He also criticised the government for not ensuring justice for BNP leaders and activists who were killed or disappeared.

He highlighted BNP's 15-and-a-half-year struggle for democracy, questioning the interim government's commitment to ensuring justice for victims of political repression.

Commenting on recent amendments to school textbooks, Rizvi praised the inclusion of chapters on leaders like Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haque, Maulana Bhashani, and Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy but expressed disappointment over the exclusion of a dedicated chapter on the Liberation War.

"It is essential to have a complete history of our struggle for freedom," Rizvi said, urging the government to ensure that the Liberation War's legacy is properly documented in school books.