SYLHET, Jan 2, 2025 (BSS) - BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed today questioned Jamaat-e-Islami’s role during the great Liberation War in 1971.

"In which sector did you fight and under whose command? The nation wants to know," he said while handing over a gift to the family of Under-19 Asia Cup winning cricketer Md Iqbal Hasan Emon on behalf of 'Amra BNP Paribar' on Humayun Rashid Chattar premises in the city.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi asked such this question against the backdrop of recent remarks of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman -- "There are two tested patriotic forces in the country, one army and the other Jamaat".

The BNP leader said if Jamaat creates such confusion, people will laugh only.

"The army is undoubtedly patriotic as their predecessors fought risking their lives to build this Bangladesh, one of whom was Major Ziaur Rahman who declared independence. The army also played a brilliant role in the mass uprising of 2024," he said.

About the textbook correction, Rizvi said the authorities have tried to present the real history in the textbooks.

He said BNP does not disagree with the chapter that has been made for towering figure of the nation where Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy and the declarer of independence Ziaur Rahman are mentioned.

He said there should be a chapter on Liberation War including the proclamation of independence and the exile government. Ziaur Rahman not only just declared independence but also fought the war, said Rizvi.

Noting that Liberation War was a big event, Rizvi said: "Sheikh Mujibur Rahman waged a movement for autonomy which prepared a ground for independence but Sheikh Mujibur Rahman did not speak of any special declaration or preparation for the Liberation War. He did not have that call. The real truth is that Ziaur Rahman declared the war and the war lasted 9 months. That chapter was not included. I will request the government that history should be a complete history of the struggle for independence."

Amra BNP Paribar convener Atiqur Rahman chaired the event which was attended by BNP Standing Committee Member Professor AZM Zahid Hossain

BNP National Executive Committee Organizing Secretary GK Gaus, Assistant Organizing Secretary Miftah Siddiqui and National Executive Committee member Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury were also present, among others.