Jamaat thinks Bangladeshis have weak memory: Hafizuddin

BNP Standing Committee member and freedom fighter Hafizuddin Ahmed has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of trying to rewrite history by bringing "new slogans" to the nation. He recalled Jamaat’s controversial role during the independence of Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Speaking at a National Press Club event on Friday, Hafiz responded to Jamaat leader Syed Abdullah Md. Taher’s recent criticism of the July declaration. Taher had claimed that the declaration overlooked key historical struggles, including the 1947 independence movement.

Hafiz dismissed these claims, saying, “Jamaat-e-Islami has never supported the creation of Bangladesh. During the 1971 liberation war, they opposed our independence. Now, they are resurfacing with new narratives, assuming the people’s memory is weak.”

The BNP leader, a former army officer, emphasized that Jamaat had opposed the formation of Pakistan in 1947 and the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. “I am 81 years old and confident that the people remember these facts well,” he said.

Jamaat deputy amir Syed Abdullah Md. Taher had earlier criticized the July declaration issued by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, calling it an incomplete statement. Taher argued that the declaration ignored the significance of the 1947 independence, various massacres such as Pilkhana and Shapla, and the contributions of religious scholars, madrasa teachers, students, expatriates, and online activists during the July uprising.

Taher also claimed that the declaration failed to mention the turning point of the July uprising—the transformation of the original nine-point demand into a single demand.

Hafiz’s remarks highlight ongoing political debates over the interpretation of Bangladesh’s history and the legacy of Jamaat-e-Islami’s role during critical moments in the country’s past.