Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General and former lawmaker Mia Golam Parwar issued a statement on Friday strongly condemning and protesting against the arrest of Freedom Fighter and former MP Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman, demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Major (Retd) Akhtaruzzaman returned home via Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on 1 October after performing the holy Umrah.
Upon arrival at the airport, he faced various forms of harassment and suffering like other passengers, expressed anger in protest, and demanded an end to such harassment from the authorities concerned.
Parwar said two officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines have been suspended over allegations of passenger harassment and misconduct regarding luggage at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
Although the police said CCTV footage, eyewitness testimony, and other evidence would be collected to conduct an investigation, a case was purposefully filed against Akhtaruzzaman last night prior to any inquiry, leading to his arrest this evening.
Parwar expressed strong condemnation and protest over the filing of the case and his subsequent arrest.
The Jamaat leader added that long-standing complaints of mismanagement and harassment exist against immigration at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He highlighted widespread resentment among passengers caused by unnecessary questioning, long waiting times, disrespectful behaviour, luggage harassment, loss of valuable items from baggage, lack of necessary information, counter-shuffling, and extra suffering endured by female, ill, and elderly passengers.
He stressed that an impartial investigation must be conducted into the ordeal faced by Akhtaruzzaman and many other passengers, demanding that those responsible for passenger harassment and mismanagement be identified and face effective legal action.
Urging the government to act immediately, Parwar called for the immediate and unconditional release of Akhtaruzzaman.
He further demanded an end to passenger harassment at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the assurance of service quality, and the establishment of accountability among the relevant authorities.
