Supporters Protest Arrest of Former MP Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar, Call for Immediate Release

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Supporters and well-wishers of former Awami League central leader, freedom fighter and former Gazipur-5 MP Alhaj Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar have condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release, along with the release of all political prisoners.In a statement, the protesters highlighted Akhtaruzzaman’s long public service and political activism.

They said he played an important role in student politics, the 1971 Liberation War and national politics, and described him as a distinguished figure in Dhaka University student politics, having served multiple times as vice-president and general secretary of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU).The statement said Akhtaruzzaman underwent military training in Dhandhuya, Dehradun, India during the Liberation War and later served there as an instructor. He was an active member of the Bengal Liberation Force (BLF), one of the organisations involved in Bangladesh’s war of independence.

Protesters also noted Akhtaruzzaman’s role in later political movements and party organisation. He was named among the key leaders of the 1990 mass movement against military rule and served for many years as divisional organising secretary of the Awami League’s Central Executive Committee. He was elected to parliament from the then Gazipur-3 (Kaliganj) constituency in the seventh parliamentary election as an Awami League candidate.According to the statement, Akhtaruzzaman later served as administrator and then chairman of the Gazipur District Council. Most recently, he was elected MP for Gazipur-5 (Kaliganj, Pubail–Baria) in the 12th parliamentary election and was widely known locally as a leader of the people.

The protesters described the arrest of the veteran politician and freedom fighter as deeply regrettable and called on authorities to immediately release Akhtaruzzaman Akhtar and ensure the release of all political prisoners.