Former BNP lawmaker and decorated freedom fighter Major (Retd.) Akhtaruzzaman has formally joined Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami after being expelled five times from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Once a two-time MP from Kishoreganj-2 and former district BNP president, Akhtaruzzaman announced his decision at Jamaat’s central office in Dhaka, calling the Islamist party 'patriotic' and accusing BNP of inconsistency and falsehoods about the Liberation War. He argued that BNP’s leadership, particularly Tarique Rahman, misrepresented Jamaat’s role in 1971, claiming that the war was fought against Pakistani forces, not Jamaat. Akhtaruzzaman criticized BNP’s shifting alliances and divisive politics, saying the party failed to unite opposition forces after August 5. He also alleged that both BNP and Jamaat have faced state repression under the Awami League government. His defection underscores growing rifts within Bangladesh’s opposition bloc and may complicate future coalition-building efforts ahead of national political realignments.