Fight will continue until people's rights are restored: Jamaat amir Shafiqur Rahman at reception for freed Akhtaruzzaman

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami amir and Leader of the Opposition in the National Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said their fight will continue to establish the rights of the people and the fair rights of ordinary passengers and expatriates. The fight will continue until the people's rights are returned to the people's hands, he said.

He made the remarks on Tuesday (3 November) at a reception held at the opposition leader's official residence on Minto Road in the capital, marking the release of Jamaat-e-Islami leader, former MP and freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman after imprisonment.

He said their honoured colleague Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman had returned to them after serving one month and three days in prison. He had done no wrong; rather, he had to serve prison time for protesting long-standing irregularities, mismanagement and passenger harassment at Shahjalal International Airport, the Jamaat amir said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said Akhtaruzzaman had protested passengers' long waits for luggage at the airport, the trolley crisis, theft of goods from luggage and other mismanagement. Although his language of protest was strong, he did not lay a hand on anyone. Yet a case was filed against him on charges of obstructing government work and assaulting a government official, which he claimed was completely false.

The Jamaat amir said that after Major Akhtaruzzaman's protest, some visible steps had been taken to solve various airport problems. New trolleys were added in two phases, cameras were installed at luggage belts and body cameras were attached to ground-handling staff. Passengers now get their luggage faster than before. These changes prove that the problems he raised were real, and the benefit of his protest is now being received by ordinary passengers and especially expatriates, he said.

Dr Shafiqur Rahman said it was extremely regrettable that a case was filed against a heroic freedom fighter, that he was taken on remand and the way he was presented on the court premises. The protesting voice cannot be silenced by intimidating Major Akhtaruzzaman or filing cases against him, he said.

Addressing the government, he said there would be no gain from running propaganda against the opposition instead of facing criticism over failures and incompetence in various sectors of the country. Attempts to assassinate the opposition's character must be dropped and initiatives taken to remove the people's suffering. The people of this country would not accept attempts to suppress protesting voices as in the past, he said.

At the event, Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman said he was arrested for protesting the mistreatment, mismanagement and harassment of expatriates at the airport. He also alleged that a false case was filed against him for protesting the mistreatment of expatriates at the airport, and that he was arrested and sent to prison without bail.

He said he had no objection to the arrest; but the question was why he was taken on remand. He also raised the question of who gave the police the authority to collect information and interrogate about a political party's internal affairs.

Describing his remand interrogation experience, he said he was blindfolded and asked various questions about Jamaat-e-Islami. He raised the question of why the police would want to know about a political party's internal activities, leadership and organisational matters. Bangladesh's law has not given the police such authority. If a crime is committed, police will certainly investigate, but interrogation in the name of investigating a political party's internal affairs cannot be acceptable, he said. He drew the attention of the relevant authorities to the matter.

Addressing the home minister, Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman said the people of Bangladesh would not accept it if the country was run this way. They would continue protests and movements to establish the rule of law in the country. Saying he would appeal to the prime minister on the matter, he said that to establish the rule of law, the home ministry's role and activities must be reviewed, and she must also think about the home minister's performance of duty.

At the end of his speech, Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman expressed gratitude to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and everyone concerned for organising the reception after his release and for standing by him during his imprisonment.