Jamaat accepted anti-liberation role with silence over JAMUKA Bill: Law Minister

Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Wednesday claimed that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has effectively accepted its historical role as an "anti-liberation" force by not opposing the definition of "Bir Muktijoddha (Valiant Freedom Fighter)" in the newly amended Jatiya Muktijoddha Council (JAMUKA) Bill.

He made the remark while taking part in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech in Parliament, UNB reports. 

Referring to the JAMUKA Bill, the minister noted that the legislation explicitly defines freedom fighters as those who fought against the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators, including the then Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezame Islam, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and Razakars.

“Jamaat did not effectively oppose this law in Parliament. In fact, support was provided in writing on behalf of the NCP. I thank them for this. By operation of law and interpretation, it is now established who opposed the independence war in 1971 and who was involved in murder, forced disappearances, and rape,” he said.

The minister expressed his vision for the current Parliament, formed following the July mass uprising, to build a nation that carries forward the spirits of the 1971 Liberation War, the 1990 pro-democracy movement, and the 2024 mass uprising.

However, he expressed disappointment over a leaflet distributed by the 11-party alliance regarding why the opposition wants reforms.

Asaduzzaman pointed out that the leaflet fails to mention the "July Charter," which was signed by 33 parties.

“In this Parliament, we want to talk about the country's development and future. Instead, we are discussing four questions for a referendum. The BNP had no objection to three and a half of those questions,” he claimed, describing the remaining portion as a mix of "half-love and half-deception."

Reflecting on past election campaigns, the minister remarked that he had heard claims of some groups "selling tickets to heaven."

“If those claims were fake, then they are admitting they are not the custodians of such tickets.”

He also criticised the occasional "lifelessness" of Parliament in the past, noting that the House was sometimes boycotted or faced unnecessary tension without logical reasoning.