Rangpur: Jamaat-e-Islami Executive Council Member ATM Azharul Islam, who was recently acquitted of charges related to the 1971 crimes against humanity, has stated that those responsible for the murder of Jamaat leaders should face justice. "Those involved in the murders of top Jamaat leaders in the name of justice must be brought under the law of the land. Otherwise, there will be no rule of law in the country," Azharul Islam asserted during a 'Shukrana' (thanksgiving) rally and Eid reunion program at Taraganj Model Government Primary School ground this afternoon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Taraganj Upazila Jamaat Ameer SM Alamgir Hossain presided over the program where Azharul Islam spoke about the unjust treatment of Jamaat leaders. He emphasized that once the full verdict of these leaders is released, it will reveal that they were executed unjustly. He further criticized the past judicial process, claiming it was influenced by party politics, and expressed gratitude for his own acquittal, attributing it to a more impartial court system.
Azharul Islam recounted his experiences, proclaiming his innocence in the crimes he was accused of and lamenting the framing of false charges and testimonies against him. He criticized judges who, according to him, compromised their integrity, thereby denying justice to the people.
He highlighted the executions of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Muhammad Kamruzzaman, and Abdul Quader Mollah, and mentioned Mir Quasem Ali, who he claimed was also wrongfully accused despite returning to the country under the threat of death.
Touching on political developments, Azharul Islam noted that the interim government has promised elections by next April, urging swift reforms to facilitate voting. He lamented the lack of voting opportunities over the past 15 years and called for a "voting revolution" in the upcoming elections.
Reflecting on his electoral journey, Azharul Islam mentioned his past attempts at elections in 1996, 2001, and 2009, expressing his intent to contest again from the Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taraganj) constituency. He pledged integrity in his future role, vowing to avoid 'haram' (illegal) money.
Later, Azharul Islam attended another 'Shukrana' rally and Eid reunion program in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur, presided over by Badarganj Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Kamruzzaman Kabir. The event featured speeches from several prominent Jamaat leaders, including Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Moulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee Member Moulana Momtaz Uddin, and others who addressed the gatherings as special guests.