Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman has vowed to continue the struggle to establish the rights of citizens, ordinary passengers and expatriate Bangladeshis, saying the movement will persist until people regain control of their rightful rights.

“The struggle will continue until the rights of the people are returned to their hands,” he said.

He made the remarks at a reception organised for Jamaat leader and freedom fighter Major (retd) Akhtaruzzaman following his release from prison. The event was held on Tuesday afternoon at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition at 29 Minto Road in Dhaka.

Shafiqur Rahman said Akhtaruzzaman had returned after spending one month and three days in prison. He claimed that his colleague had committed no wrongdoing and had been jailed for protesting longstanding irregularities, mismanagement and passenger harassment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

The Jamaat chief said Akhtaruzzaman had raised concerns over passengers having to wait for long periods to collect their luggage, shortages of baggage trolleys, theft of belongings from luggage and other service-related problems at the airport.

Although his language of protest may have been strong, Shafiqur said, he had not physically assaulted anyone. Nevertheless, cases were filed against him over allegations of obstructing government work and assaulting a government official. Shafiqur described the allegations as entirely false and said Akhtaruzzaman had refused to back down from his position against what he considered injustice.

Referring to the veteran freedom fighter’s detention, Shafiqur said it was deeply regrettable that a freedom fighter had faced a case, remand and what he described as humiliating treatment in the court premises.

He warned that neither intimidation nor legal cases could silence voices of protest, adding that his colleague had demonstrated that they feared no intimidation and feared only Almighty Allah.

Addressing the government, the Jamaat Ameer said attempts to spread propaganda against the opposition would not help address criticism of failures and inefficiency in different sectors.

Instead of trying to damage the opposition’s reputation, he urged the government to take initiatives to ease people’s suffering. If the government resolved public grievances, he said, citizens would support it.

He also warned that people would not accept attempts to suppress dissenting voices, as had happened in the past.

Shafiqur further observed that many people who stand beside others during good times are often absent during difficult periods. He urged the government not to be misled by temporary support and praise, but to focus on resolving people’s actual problems.

Speaking at the event, Akhtaruzzaman said Almighty Allah had given him the courage to speak for the people, justice, truth and Islam. He alleged that he had been arrested for protesting mistreatment, mismanagement and harassment of expatriate Bangladeshis at the airport.

Recalling his questioning in remand, Akhtaruzzaman said his eyes had been blindfolded while he was asked various questions about Jamaat-e-Islami.

He questioned why police would seek information about the internal activities, leadership and organisational affairs of a political party, arguing that Bangladesh’s laws did not grant law enforcement agencies such authority.

He said investigating a crime and uncovering evidence were legitimate responsibilities of the police. However, he argued that questioning someone under the pretext of investigating a political party’s internal organisational activities was unacceptable.

Akhtaruzzaman called on the relevant authorities to take note of the issue.