Razzaq quits Jamaat

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Abdur Razzaq, also a top defence lawyer for Jamaat leaders in war crimes trial, resigned from the party on Friday citing its failure to apologise to the nation for its ‘role in opposing the historic struggle for liberation in 1971.’
Razzaq sent his resignation letter to Jamaat amir Maqbul Ahmed from the United Kingdom, also citing Jamaat’s failure to reform the party in line with the realities of the 21st century and developments in the Muslim-majority countries, said a release signed by his personal assistant Kausar Hamid. 
The senior Supreme Court lawyer was the first Jamaat leader to resign over the issue of 1971 stance of the party.
‘Over the last three decades I have been trying relentlessly to persuade Jamaat to have a frank discussion of the events of 1971, Jamaat’s role in those events and why it decided to support Pakistan and apologise for that decision,’ Razzaq said in his resignation letter.
He noted that all his efforts were unsuccessful and that as a result, ‘those who were born after 1971 and even the many unborn generations, who may be associated with Jamaat in future will have to bear this burden.’
‘We are saddened and shocked by his resignation. Resignation is a recognised right of any member. We wish him to stay well and healthy wherever he stays,’ Jamaat secretary general Shafiqur Rahman said in a statement on Razzaq’s resignation.
Razzaq resignation came amid reports on Jamaat’s internal dispute over abolishing the party and launching a fresh political platform that would not carry the stigma of ‘anti-liberation force’. 
Jamaat collaborated with the marauding Pakistani forces during the 1971 Liberation War, in which, according to unofficial data, three million people were killed and hundreds of thousands of women were raped.
Five top Jamaat leaders — amir, secretary general, two assistant secretaries general and a key financier — have been executed since 2013 for 1971 crimes against humanity.
The party’s spiritual leader Ghulam Azam died in jail in 2014 after serving 15 months of his 90-year jail sentence on war crime charges.
The Election Commission in October 2018 cancelled the registration of Jamaat following a Supreme Court order.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament in the past week that her government would ban Jamaat if asked by the court.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net