Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has claimed that his party was not against the Liberation War of 1971 but feared the potential consequences of India’s involvement.

He said Jamaat wanted a united Pakistan at that time but later accepted independent Bangladesh wholeheartedly.

In an interview with a private television channel on Friday (Nov 15), Shafiqur Rahman said, “Jamaat-e-Islami was not against independence. We feared that if independence came with India's assistance, the benefits might not be realized. However, the oppression, killings, and misdeeds of Pakistan’s rulers made the war inevitable, and the country became independent.”

He added, “Afterwards, we embraced independent Bangladesh with love and respect.”

On the issue of banning political parties, he said, “Whenever the Awami League is in power, they talk about banning us. The politics of banning is not something we support. Whether the Awami League should be banned is for the people to decide.”

Regarding elections, he said, “The interim government should carry out necessary reforms while the elected government addresses the rest. The current government has a moral obligation to ensure progress but must not unnecessarily prolong the process under any excuse.”

BDST: 1638 HRS, NOV 15, 2024
MSK