Never apologized for role in '71: Mirza Fakhrul to Jamaat

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has criticized Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami for not apologizing to the nation for its role in the 1971 Liberation War. At the same time, he advised the new political party NCP to take a clearer stance in politics without carrying any 'stigma' or stigma of the past.

He said these things while participating in the general discussion on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year in the National Parliament on Sunday (June 28). Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal presided over the session.

Referring to Jamaat, Mirza Fakhrul said to the opposition party members, you have never apologized to the nation for your role in 1971. You should have done so. But you could not do so. Rather, your leader Professor Golam Azam said, 'We did not make a mistake in 1971.' There is still time. Make your position clear on Bangladesh and present it to the people of the country. If you admit this mistake, politics will be much easier for you.

Praising the parliamentary role of the new political party NCP, he said that the performance of this party of young people has made him optimistic. However, he hopes that the party will not carry any political stigma in the future, which once denied the existence of Bangladesh. He also wished the NCP well for its future.

Speaking on the budget, Mirza Fakhrul said that Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has formulated the budget on the three foundations of 'recovery, restoration and reconstruction'. The goals have been set to stabilize the economy in the next one year, reform in three years and structural transformation in five years.

Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's recent visit to China, he said that during his visit to China in 2002, in the presence of that country's Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman was told, 'Carry the flag of your father and mother.' Tarique Rahman has visited China again with that flag of freedom, democracy and sovereignty and returned home with that flag. He also commented that victory is inevitable in the country's progress.