The BNP says Jamaat-e-Islami should apologise to the nation for opposing Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.
The statement over its long-time ally comes days after senior Jamaat leader Abdur Razzaq quit the Islamist party citing its failure to apologise for supporting Pakistan during the 1971 Liberation War.
An apology from Jamaat is now “a demand of all”, UNB quoted senior BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan.
His remarks came on Wednesday (Feb 17) while speaking to the media in Dhaka paying tribute to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman as part of commemorations for the founding anniversary ofJatiyatabadi Tanti Dal, a BNP affiliate organization, reports the news agency.
“Jamaat should be ashamed of its anti-liberation war role or should apologise for it. It’s a logical demand,” it quoted Khan, a member of BNP’s top policymaking body National Standing Committee.
During the 1971 war, Jamaat and its erstwhile student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha formed several militia groups called Razakar, Al-Badar and Al-Shams to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation force.
The groups were notorious for engaging in genocide, mass killing, rape, looting and other war crimes during the Liberation War.
The Supreme Court has so far convicted seven top Jamaat leaders with five of them already executed since war crimes trial began in 2010.
None of the party’s leaders had expressed regret over its role in the Liberation War.
Jamaat has been an ally of the BNP for almost two decades now, in the coalition led by the BNP.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Khan who also serves as the coordinator of the BNP-led 20-party alliance said they “surely want” those involved in anti-liberation acts to be brought to justice, according to the UNB report.
He, however, added those who “destroyed democracy” in Bangladesh should also apologise to the nation.
Responding a query on media reports suggesting Jamaat is launching a new party, Khan described it as Jamaat's "internal affairs" but said the party was still a member of the BNP-led coalition.



“Jamaat never told us that they don’t want to remain with the 20-party Alliance,” he said before adding as a political party, Jamaat has the right to leave the alliance.