Taher claims ‘child freedom fighter’ status, warns govt over risks of two-thirds majority

Deputy Opposition Leader Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher today (30 April) claimed that he is also a ‘child freedom fighter’ (Shishu Muktijoddha) as he had assisted the refugees on their way to India during the 1971 Liberation War.

“Today, we are being called Razakars and Al-Badr (collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces) more and more. None of us sitting here were Razakars or Al-Badr. We are the current leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami. If you talk about heroic freedom fighters, then I am also a child freedom fighter,” he said in Parliament.

Taher made this claim, participating in the discussion on the thanksgiving motion over the President’s speech delivered at the outset of the current session in the House.

Explaining his claim, he said his (ancestral) house is near the border, and his family helped refugees heading to India by providing them shelter, food and guidance.

“Those who went to India as refugees would take shelter in our house. We would feed them breakfast and watch to see if the army was patrolling. If the army was far away, we would show them the way so that they could cross the border safely into India,” he said, adding that no one has the right to make such a remark that they are Razakars.

The Deputy Opposition Leader alleged that Razakar Moulana Nurul Islam was a member of the Awami League government’s cabinet, while Shah Azizur Rahman was in the cabinet of Ziaur Rahman.

Warning over two-thirds majority

Taher warned the government about the risks of overwhelming parliamentary majorities, citing historical examples from the subcontinent.

Despite having a two-thirds majority, Indira Gandhi was ousted from power in India, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated, he said.

Terrible consequences were seen during the time of Indira Gandhi in India, Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan, Sheikh Saheb in Bangladesh, then during the time of martyred President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia, he said.

“We saw terrible outcomes of it (two-thirds majority). We want to learn from that and ensure that such an incident never happens again in Bangladesh,” he said.

Ask for decent words in Parliament

Expressing concern over the use of indecent language in Parliament, Taher said, “I heard that the health minister used the term ‘Razakar’ against someone. Such words are inappropriate and undesirable inside Parliament,” he said.

He warned that political attacks through such language could undermine mutual respect.

‘Jamaat has no bank’

Responding to a claim made by the finance minister, Taher said Jamaat does not own any bank.

“Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited is not Jamaat’s bank. None of our MPs are directors there, and we have not taken any advantage such as loan rescheduling,” he said.

However, he acknowledged that persons with their ideological affiliation may have contributed to the bank’s establishment.

“The Islamic Bank was the fruit of the efforts of a group of honest and enterprising people… If you say we have a role in running the Islamic Bank, we admit it,” said the Jamaat leader.