One day people may hear Jamaat fought for independence: Salahuddin Ahmed

BNP standing committee member and Cox’s Bazar-1 candidate Salahuddin Ahmed said one day people may even hear that Jamaat-e-Islami fought for Bangladesh’s independence, warning that a fresh attempt is underway to distort the history of the Liberation War.

He made the remarks on Tuesday afternoon while addressing an election street rally in Chakaria, Cox’s Bazar.

Salahuddin said the Jamaat ameer recently made misleading and false claims about the declaration of independence, denying that martyred president Ziaur Rahman made the declaration and attributing it to Colonel Oli instead.

He said such statements are not unexpected from those who opposed independence in 1971, adding that the people of Bangladesh know the truth and recognise the current attempt to present themselves falsely as pro-Liberation forces.

He alleged Jamaat is trying to use a freedom fighter as a symbolic signboard to legitimise its position, but said genuine freedom fighters will never accept this deception.

He also criticised recent remarks that he said insulted women, including comparisons between working women and sex workers and proposals to reduce women’s working hours, calling them plans to destroy women’s employment.

Local BNP leaders were present at the rally.