Zia Gave Jamaat a Chance to Return to Politics, but the Party Refuses to Acknowledge His Role, Says Chhatra Dal Leader Nasir

❐ Campus Representative

Bangladesh Nationalist Chhatra Dal Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir has commented that Jamaat-e-Islami got the opportunity to do politics in Bangladesh thanks to Ziaur Rahman.

He said that Ziaur Rahman ensured the opportunity for religiously based political parties to engage in politics by establishing multi-party democracy. However, Jamaat-e-Islami is now not acknowledging his contribution.

He made these remarks while speaking as a special guest at the inauguration of a two-day photography exhibition organized by the Dhaka University branch of Chhatra Dal on the occasion of Solidarity Day at the Student-Teacher Center (TSC) premises of Dhaka University today, Saturday, November 7 at 12 noon.

BNP National Executive Committee Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel was present as the chief guest at the event. Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam was present as the opening speaker. Chhatra Dal Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir was the special guest. Dhaka University Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas presided over the event and the organization’s General Secretary Nahiduzzaman Shipon moderated the event.

Regarding the political history of Jamaat-e-Islami, he said that Jamaat-e-Islami’s politics were banned through Article 38 of the 1972 constitution. Later, in 1976, by abolishing that article, Ziaur Rahman created an opportunity for religious-based political parties to engage in politics. As a result, Jamaat-e-Islami also got the opportunity to participate in Bangladeshi politics.

He further said that on August 11, 1978, the then leader of Jamaat-e-Islami returned to Bangladesh with a Pakistani passport. Later, from May 25 to 27, 1979, Jamaat-e-Islami officially started its political activities. However, currently the party is not properly acknowledging this contribution of Ziaur Rahman.

Nasir commented that Jamaat-e-Islami is now engaging in politics by taking advantage of the same opportunity he had ensured for religious political parties to engage in politics.

Inaugurating the event, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. ABM Obaidul Islam said that it has not been possible to celebrate November 7 in such a free atmosphere for 20 years since 2006. He extended his best wishes and thanks to everyone concerned for the opportunity to celebrate the day in 2026.

Dhaka University Chhatra Dal president Ganesh Chandra Roy accused the Sahas campus of tearing down propaganda materials with Ziaur Rahman’s picture, saying that propaganda materials were put up on the campus on the occasion of November 7. Later, the defeated forces of 1971, 1975 and 24 united and tore them down.