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Jamaat leader gets reception as freedom fighter in Brahmanbaria

Published at 12:26 am December 22nd, 2020

Local MP Shiuli Azad handing over flowers and crest to local Jamaat leader Tajul Islam – who is wrongfully listed as a freedom fighter – in a program marking Victory Day in Brahmanbaria on Saturday, December 19, 2020 Dhaka Tribune

Local MP Shiuli Azad, handed flowers and crests to the freedom fighters, and Tajul Islam, the Amir or chief of Jamaat’s Sharifpur union

In a bizarre turn of events, a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader was given reception along with freedom fighters by an Awami League MP in Brahmanbaria’s Ashuganj upazila.

The incident has drawn mass criticism from the netizens as Jamaat, not only supported Pakistan but also opposed Bangladesh’s independence during the Liberation War of 1971.

Since then, several of its leaders have either been served the death penalty or been jailed for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Joint Convenor of Sarail Upazila Awami League and MP from the seats reserved for women, Umme Fatema Nazma Begum aka Shiuli Azad, handed flowers and crests to Tajul Islam, the Amir or chief of Jamaat’s Sharifpur union, along with the freedom fighters of the area.

The program was organized at Sharifpur union council office by its Chairman Saifuddin Chowdhury on Saturday marking this year’s Victory Day.

MP Nazma said that she was embarrassed over the incident and she had learnt the matter of Tajul being a Jamaat leader only after the program.

She said: “The responsibility of the matter should fall upon the organizers of the program. I have informed the ministry and they should remove his name from the list of freedom fighters.”

She claimed that her political rivals are behind the incident as they are trying to tarnish her image.

“I would have never given flowers to a Jamaat leader had I known his identity,” she added.

Foyez Ahmed Ful Mia, local union commander of the Muktijoddha Sangsad, said: “Tajul’s name is on the list of freedom fighters, but he was not invited separately.

“We invited the freedom fighters by making announcements through loudspeakers. As he appeared, he was also greeted,” said Foyez.

He also said Tajul has been involved with the Jamaat for a long time and had been jailed in a case over violence.

A total of 74 people are on the list of freedom fighters in the union and 43 of them have died. The families of the dead freedom fighters also attended the program.

Local UP Chairman Saif Uddin Chowdhury, who presided over the program, said the local freedom fighters had organized the reception and he participated at their request.