‘Razakars of ’71 welcome a razakar of ’24 with flowers’

Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan has criticised Jamaat-e-Islami for holding a reception for retired major Akhtaruzzaman, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about participants in the July mass uprising.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Tuesday (3 November) evening, Rashed said Akhtaruzzaman, who had called the protesters “children of razakars”, had now become a “hero” to Jamaat.

Rashed alleged that Akhtaruzzaman used those words to describe the protesters during a talk show organised by “Face the People”. He wrote that he was also present at the discussion and had faced the same attack.

According to Rashed, when the host asked whether Akhtaruzzaman was referring to all the protesters in those terms, he replied in the affirmative and stood by his remarks.

Noting that Jamaat leaders were now praising Akhtaruzzaman, who had previously been a fierce critic of the party, Rashed questioned the political consistency of their position. He asked whether Sheikh Hasina would also be given the opportunity to join Jamaat if she apologised and expressed an interest in doing so.

Rashed wrote in his post that, seeing the reception for Akhtaruzzaman, people were commenting: “The razakars of ’71 welcomed a razakar of ’24 with flowers.” This was a political comment cited in Rashed’s post.

Jamaat leaders held the reception for Akhtaruzzaman after he was released on bail in a case filed over allegations that he threatened the executive director of Shahjalal International Airport and assaulted a security supervisor. Jamaat’s amir has claimed that the case against Akhtaruzzaman, an associate member of the party, is false. He said Akhtaruzzaman had not laid a hand on anyone.