Opposition Leader Dr Shafiqur Rahman on Sunday said various disgraceful measures were taken to humiliate freedom fighter and former two-time MP Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman.
“Instead of correcting the weaknesses by taking his protest into consideration, he (Akhtaruzzaman) was arrested. Even different disgraceful measures were taken to humiliate a former two-time MP and a freedom fighter before people,” he said in a post on his Facebook page on Sunday.
Dr Rahman said no human being is above mistakes. Freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman had raised his voice against the suffering and harassment faced by general passengers at the airport, as well as the indifference and irregularities of the authorities, he said.
“In fact, he has become the voice of protest of the suffering passengers, particularly expatriate Bangladeshis returning home,” said the Jamaat chief.
He said the people are not blind and they rather are seeing everything.
“In fact, by protesting against injustice, he has proved his bravery and has become a hero in the hearts of the people who have suffered,” he said.
Dr Rahman prayed to Allah to elevate the dignity of Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman.
Detectives arrested Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman from his Cantonment residence in the capital on Friday evening.
The arrest follows a case filed against Akhtaruzzaman at Airport Police Station on Friday under several sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure by Dhaka Airport Security Officer Md Shahriar Alam Sajib on charges of obstructing government duties, creating disorder at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, and physically assaulting a security official.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred Thursday morning when passengers arriving from Madina on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG-338 faced a shortage of trolleys and delays in collecting baggage.
Airport Executive Director Group Captain SM Ragib Samad went to the spot to control the situation.
Akhtaruzzaman allegedly verbally abused and threatened him and later assaulted Security Supervisor Warrant Officer Mohammad Kamal Uddin after the latter asked his protocol assistants to stop recording videos in the restricted KPI area.
Akhtaruzzaman threw bottles of Zamzam water from passengers' trolleys and behaved aggressively toward a Biman representative, according to the FIR.
Police said they will examine CCTV footage, record eyewitness statements and collect other evidence before taking further legal action.