New Jamaat ameer Maqbul takes oath

Maqbul Ahmad, who was serving as acting ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, today took oath as the elected ameer of the party.

Maqbul, who is now aged over 70 years and the most senior leader of Jamaat, becomes the ameer of the party that stood against the country’s independence in 1971.

Maqbul has been appointed as ameer of the party for the tenure of 2017 to 2019 through a secret balloting of the party’s rukans (members).

On August 17, the voters cast their ballots at the party's 83 organisational districts, maintaining secrecy in the voting process.

After taking the oath, Maqbul in a statement extended his profound respect to the people who sacrificed their lives during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

He also expressed his gratitude to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independence.

The newly elected Jamaat chief also remembered President Ziaur Rahman, Maolana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani and General Muahammad Ataul Gani Osmani for their significant roles in the Liberation War.

Maqbul is the first Jamaat chief who is said to have no allegations of war crimes.

Of the war crimes convict Jamaat leaders including former chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Mir Quasem Ali, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah were executed while Ghulam Azam sentenced to 90 years jail and Delawar Hossain Sayedee imprisonment until death.