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Bangladesh

Razakar Sakhawat to die

2016-08-11

[Dhaka Tribune] Former Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... MP Sakhawat Hossain has been sentenced to death for the crimes against humanity he had committed in Jessore during the 1971 Liberation War. Sakhawat, now a leader of Jatiya Party ...aka Jatiya Front; a political party established by Bangladictator Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad in 1986 to lend a veneer of respectability to his rule. Since nobody was amused he was forced to resign by popular demand in 1990. The party remains in existence with about a dozen seats in Bangla's parliament... , was given the punishment for the torture and murder of Chandtulla Gazi and his son Atiyar of Keshabpur upazila’s Chingra village; and the abduction, torture and murder of Abdul Malek Sardar of Keshabpur Upazila’s Hijaldanga village in Jessore. "The sentence of death awarded be executed by hanging the convict accused Md Sakhawat Hossain by the neck or by shooting him till he is dead, as decided by the government," the verdict says. Delivering the judgement yesterday, the International Crimes Tribunal headed by Justice Anwarul Haque said that all the five charges ‐ abduction, confinement, torture, rape and murder of Bangalis ‐ brought against him had been proven against him. Two other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shahinur Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi. It is the 26th verdict in war crimes cases. The first judgement was pronounced against war criminal Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar on January 23, 2013. The tribunal yesterday also sentenced seven others to imprisonment until death. They are Md Billal Hossain, Md Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman, Md Abdul Aziz Sarder, Qazi Ohidul Islam alias Wahidur Salam, Md Aziz Sarder and Abdul Khalek Morol. Another accused, Lutfor Morol, died of cardiac arrest in police custody on May 6 this year. All but Sakhawat and Billal have been on the run. The defence lawyers said that they would file an appeal with the Appellate Division against the judgement while the state counsels said they were satisfied. A total of seventeen witnesses testified against the war criminals during the trial. The tribunal finished hearing in the case on July 14 and kept the case pending for verdict. In 1971, Sakhawat was the a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the erstwhile student wing of Jamaat, and later become a leader of al-Badr in Jessore. The seven others were involved with the razakar force. He went into hiding after the independence and resumed politics in 1986 as a leader of Jamaat in Jessore. He was elected politician from Jessore 6 constituency with Jamaat ticket in 1991. He later joined the BNP and became an MP in the February 15 elections in 1996. Also known as Maulana Shakhawat, the war criminal is now the religious affairs secretary of Jatiya Party. During the 2014 national elections, he contested from Jatiya Party from the same constituency but could not win. He was jugged Book 'im, Mahmoud! over war crimes charges on November 29, 2014. The tribunal’s probe body started investigation against him in 2012. In this case, the prosecution pressed charges against 12 people on July 26 last year. The tribunal accepted the charges against nine on September 8. Finally, five charges were framed against them on December 23. The offences took place between mid-September and mid-October in 1971. After the full verdict is published, the convicts will get 30-day time to file appeals but the absconders will have to surrender to avail the legal opportunity.

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Bangladesh

Pakistan expresses concern over Nizami verdict

2016-05-08

[Dhaka Tribune] Pakistain has expressed deep concern and anguish after Bangladesh's top court upheld the death penalty for Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami ...During the liberation war of 1971, Nizami formed the Al-Badr Force and acted as its supreme commander. The Al-Badr militia took active part in rape, extortion, looting and killing of Bangladeshis who supported the liberation, including a pre-planned massacre on December 14, 1971, when the Al-Badr militia along with Pakistan Army rounded up hundreds of doctors, professors, writers, and other Bengali intellectuals, and executed them... for war crimes. "We have noted with deep concern and anguish the dismissal of the review application on the death sentence, by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, for Mr Motiur Rahman Niazami the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... ," Pakistain's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday. Nizami is the ameer of Jamaat which openly opposed Bangladesh's independence from Pakistain in 1971. He was involved in mass murders and rapes of Bangalis in Pabna and massacre of intellectuals in Dhaka. Pakistain, which had previously condemned sentencing of Jamaat leaders for war crimes, dubbed the trials "controversial." "There is a need for reconciliation in Bangladesh in accordance with the spirit of Tripartite Agreement of April 1974 which calls for a forward looking approach in matters relating to the events of 1971," the statement added. Nizami was the chief of Jamaat’s then students' wing Islami Chhatra Sangha, members of which formed al-Badr force to collaborate with the Pak Army to commit barbaric atrocities. The tribunal verdict said Nizami had civil superior responsibility in the commission of the offences as chief of both Chhatra Sangha and al-Badr in 1971. The review petition was the war criminal's last legal battle. Now, he will have the chance to seek presidential pardon. If he does not receive it or opts to not seek clemency, the government will carry out the death sentence.

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Bangladesh

War criminal Mir Quasem's appeal hearing to end today

2016-02-24

[Dhaka Tribune] The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday heard the prosecution arguments in the appeals case of condemned Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali ...Jamaat-e-Islamic Central Committee member and Saudi money man in Bangla. Currently waiting to be hanged.... A five-member panel headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha adjourned the hearing until today after Attorney General Mahbubey Alam placed his arguments against Quasem, who had been a commander of notorious al-Badr force in the Chittagong during the Liberation War. At one stage of the hearing, the court expressed dissatisfaction over the prosecution and the Sherlocks of the International Crimes Tribunal for their "incompetence" as they had failed to bring witnesses against some charges brought against the war criminal. The court said that they were shocked at the performance of the tribunal's prosecution team and the Sherlocks. "Huge amount of money is being spent, but their responsibilities are not reflected in their performance," it said. The court also asked the prosecution to end their arguments by today. The defence earlier claimed that his client had not been directly involved in any of the incidents and that the witnesses produced unreal depositions. Top Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... financier Quasem, now 64, was awarded capital punishment by the tribunal on November 3, 2014. As many as 24 prosecution witnesses testified against Quasem. The tribunal handed down the death penalty on two charges -- for killing seven people, including teenage freedom fighter Jasimuddin, after abduction. He was also awarded a total of 72-year imprisonment on the eight other proven charges of abduction, conspiracy and planning. The Appellate Division started hearing on his appeal on February 9. It is the seventh appeals case heard by the top court. Quasem joined Islami Chhatra Sangha, then student wing of Jamaat, in 1967 while studying at Chittagong Collegiate School. He later became its Chittagong city unit general secretary. He played an important role in forming al-Badr Bahini. He had set up makeshift torture camps at different places in the port city. According to the government, Quasem has also spent a large amount of money abroad to make the war crimes trials controversial.

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Bangladesh

'Prosecution has proved that Nizami was a collaborator'

2015-12-09

[Dhaka Tribune] The lawyer for death-row convict war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami ...During the liberation war of 1971, Nizami formed the Al-Badr Force and acted as its supreme commander. The Al-Badr militia took active part in rape, extortion, looting and killing of Bangladeshis who supported the liberation, including a pre-planned massacre on December 14, 1971, when the Al-Badr militia along with Pakistan Army rounded up hundreds of doctors, professors, writers, and other Bengali intellectuals, and executed them... has admitted before the court that the prosecution successfully proved that his client was a collaborator of the Pak occupation forces in 1971. The counsel, however, argued that since the government was not trying the Pak Army for committing war crimes, it should consider the merit of trying a collaborator for abetting the Pak Army in war crimes. It was the first time that any war criminal or his lawyer admits collaboration with the Pak Army that killed around three million people during the country's liberation struggle. Earlier, two executed war criminals -- Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury -- sought presidential clemency, but were rejected. It means that they admitted the crimes for which they had been sentenced to death. The defence counsel, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, yesterday prayed to the court to commute Nizami's death sentence to life imprisonment if the apex court found him guilty of his wartime offence. He also urged the court to acquit his client of all the charges. Nizami, now 75, was the chief of al-Badr force as the head of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... 's then student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha in erstwhile East Pakistain. He later became the chief of All Pakistain Chhatra Sangha. The incumbent Jamaat chief was sentenced to death on four charges and life-term jail on four others. In response to a question after the hearing, Mahbub said that seeking reduced punishment did not mean admitting the crimes. "The prosecution has proved that Nizami was a collaborator. But they could not prove that Nizami was involved with any particular offence. "The prosecution has brought witnesses to prove that Nizami was with the Pak Army. [So] they [Army] should be the main accused [in the case]. Here, the [Pakistain] Army is not being tried. So, the court should judge the justification of the trial of Nizami as an abettor [of war crimes]." He questioned whether the collaborators, who accompanied the Pak Army personnel during operations, had the ability to assist them in committing the crimes.

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Bangladesh

Former insider unmasked the 'mastermind'

2014-10-30

[Dhaka Tribune] A prosecution witness, who used to be a member of Islami Chhatra Sangha of which Nizami was the chief in 1971, has given a first hand account of the criminal mastermind's role that the death row war criminal had played during the war. Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, now the chairman of a pro-Awami League faction of the Islami Oikya Jote ... a political party in Bangladesh. In the 2001 elections the party won 2 out of 300 elected members in an alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. It has a focus on building an islamic state, and has used the madrassas to gain support... , narrated in deposition before the International Crimes Tribunal how Nizami brained the formation of the al-Badr force that killed many intellectuals in 1971.

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Bangladesh

Razakars were for peace! Claims Nizami's counsel in war trial

2013-11-19

[Bangla Daily Star] The Razakar force was only formed to ensure law and order during the war, claimed the defence for war crimes accused Motiur Rahman Nizami ...During the liberation war of 1971, Nizami formed the Al-Badr Force and acted as its supreme commander. The Al-Badr militia took active part in rape, extortion, looting and killing of Bangladeshis who supported the liberation, including a pre-planned massacre on December 14, 1971, when the Al-Badr militia along with Pakistan Army rounded up hundreds of doctors, professors, writers, and other Bengali intellectuals, and executed them... yesterday before the International Crimes Tribunal-1. The defence compared Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's March 7 speech with a speech Nizami delivered in Chittagong during the war where he said, "Pakistain is the house of Allah." To the surprise of most in the courtroom, defence counsel Tajul Islam made the comment about the Razakar force, historically known as one of the vicious auxiliary forces of the Mighty Pak Army. His statement was in response to the prosecution argument that Nizami's speech on September 10, 1971, incited Razakars to commit war crimes. Tajul also said Jamaat chief Nizami was a "patriot" who had called upon his follower to restore peace in the country. One of the charges against Nizami was that he incited people to commit war crimes through a speech he delivered at the Mohammedan Institute of Chittagong on August 3, 1971 during a meeting of the Chittagong City unit of the Islami Chhatra Sangha, then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... Nizami in the speech had said, "Pakistain is the house of Allah." Tajul yesterday argued that "Pakistain is the house of Allah" was a rhetoric and it revealed Nizami's love for the country. "He did not incite people to commit crimes with his speech." He then went on to compare Bangabandhu's March 7 speech with Nizami's. He said Bangabandhu's speech caused a national upsurge and he had made the speech against his own country but we do not call it incitement. Tajul yesterday claimed that the charge against Nizami that he used religion to incite Razakars and young men to commit war crimes was vague. Tajul said the prosecution had not brought in any witnesses to prove the four charges of inciting people to commit crimes against humanity, rather it relied solely upon four documents. The defence counsel claimed that incitement to commit crimes against humanity was not an offence under customary international law and that incitement to commit genocide was an offence. If the prosecution could prove that Nizami's was an incitement to commit genocide then it would be an offence but it did not mention that. He claimed that to consider an incident an act of genocide, the victims have to be of one of four groups, based on religion, nationality, ethnicity and race. He said, "There is no mention of the said four groups in the documents upon which the prosecution relied." According to historical documents, three million people were killed and nearly a quarter of a million women were raped by the Pakistain army and its auxiliary forces, including the Razakar and Al-Badr forces, during the nine-month-long Liberation War. Nizami is facing 16 war crimes charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War in 1971.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat leader faces 6 war crimes charges including genocide, murder

2013-11-13

[Bangla Daily Star] Alleged Al-Badr commander of Rangpur ATM Azharul Islam was indicted yesterday on six charges of murder, genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971. The former president of Rangpur district unit Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... , was charged with two acts of genocide that left more than 1,200 people dead. The 61-year-old Jamaat assistant secretary general was also charged with torture, loot, arson, abduction, rape, mass killing and conspiracy to kill unarmed civilians at different parts of Rangpur. Azharul pleaded himself not guilty after the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir with Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Anwarul Haque asked him about the charges. His trial is set to begin on December 5 with an opening statement from the prosecution.

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Bangladesh

Bangla: Jamaat's Quasem indicted

2013-09-06

[Bangla Daily Star] The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday indicted Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... leader Mir Quasem Ali on 14 charges, including murder, torture, abduction and confinement of people and complicity in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. A member of Jamaat's executive council, Quasem, 60, pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." by saying, "Honourable tribunal, I am completely innocent." The tribunal also fixed September 30 for the opening statement of the prosecution and the commencement of the trial. Born in Munsidangi Sutalori of Manikganj on December 31, 1952, Quasem became the general secretary of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, on November 7, 1971. Chhatra Sangha members formed the Al-Badr force to collaborate with the Pak military to commit genocide and mass killing during the war, according to historical records and earlier tribunal verdicts. The charges say that Quasem had led members of the Al-Badr of Chittagong in 1971. "Al-Badar [Al-Badr] was created not to maintain peace and public order. Rather, it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that it had carried out a series of untold criminal activities, in furtherance of the policy and plan of the Pakistain occupation army in a systematic manner," read the judgement against condemned war criminal Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed. Quasem apparently did very well after the Liberation War. According to defence documents, Quasem is the chairman of Keari Ltd, a real estate and tourism company, chairman of the managing committee of Diganta Media Corporations, which owns now off-the-air Diganta TV and the Naya Diganta paper. He is also a founding member of Ibn-Sina Trust, which owns several medical facilities and a pharmaceutical company, and a member secretary of Islami Bank Foundation and founding member of Islami Bank. The prosecution during the charge framing hearing tried to establish the superior status of Quasem during the Liberation War by citing reports published in newspapers. Quoting a report of Daily Pakistain of November 8, 1971, prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon said Quasem addressed a rally, organised by Al-Badr, in front of Baitul Mukarram mosque where he vowed to resist India's attack, kill "myrmidons" and establish Islamic society.

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Bangladesh

Jamaat actions unlike Islam, judgment says of the party during War of Liberation

2013-07-18

[Bangla Daily Star] Although the Jamaat-e-Islami had claimed that Islam was its ideology, no proof of humanity and tolerance was found in its activities during the Liberation War, International Crimes Tribunal-2 said yesterday in its verdict against Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed. Terming the pro-liberation Bangalee people "miscreants", "agents of India", and "enemies of Islam", the Jamaat had opted to wipe them out only in the name of preserving Pakistan, noted the tribunal judges. "The nation will be failing to acknowledge the sacrifices of millions of people who had laid their lives and honour for the cause of our hard-earned independence if individuals like the present accused [Mojaheed] are not brought to book for their notorious role and active contribution and endorsement for committing systematic atrocities in 1971 in the territory of Bangladesh," they added. Reiterating the observations made in the verdict against another Jamaat leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman in May this year, the tribunal said the victims and sufferers of the diabolical atrocities do have the right to know the Jamaat's role in 1971. The ICT-2 handed death sentence to Mojaheed, secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War 42 years ago. The same tribunal had found Kamaruzzaman, one of the key organisers of the infamous Al-Badr, guilty of committing crimes against humanity and sentenced him to death. Yesterday's verdict also said, "The Jamaat-e-Islami had played a substantial role in formation of the Al-Badar [Al-Badr], Razakar, al-Shams and peace committees and of course not with the intent to guard the civilians and their property." The Al-Badr was an "action section" and "armed wing" of the Jamaat-e-Islami, which was formed mainly with the workers of the Jamaat's student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha, observed the judges. The Jamaat, they said, had indulged in indiscriminate massacre of their political opponents belonging to the Bangalee nation in the name of liquidating "miscreants" and "infiltrators" for which it had used Razakars and Al-Badr. The tribunal further held that the Jamaat had allowed the creation of Al-Badr and Razakar to operate an assembly line of incalculable atrocities in the territory of Bangladesh in 1971. This party cannot be relieved of the accountability of unspeakable mayhem, atrocities and murders committed by the Al-Badr, which was created by it (Jamaat), stated the court.

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Bangladesh

Prosecution, Azam counsel disappointed

2013-07-16

[The Hindu] Ghulam Azam, in a wheelchair, was sitting in the dock in the jam-packed courtroom here when a 75-page excerpt of the 243-page judgment was read out on Monday. While Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... enforced a countrywide hartal ... a peculiarly Bangla combination of a general strike and a riot, used by both major political groups in lieu of actual governance ... , in which three people were killed and scores injured, Azam's counsel said they would appeal against the verdict sentencing the 91-year-old Jamaat founder to 90 years' imprisonment for crimes committed against humanity during Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971. The prosecution had in January 2012 brought 62 specific charges against Azam. In May this year, the war crimes tribunal indicted him on five charges of crimes against humanity based on 61 incidents of murder and torture of unarmed people; and conspiracy, incitement and complicity to commit genocide and crimes against humanity. The indictment order said that at the time of the war in 1971 all leaders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Sangha, later renamed as Islami Chatra Shibir, opposed, under Ghulam Azam's leadership, the Bangladesh liberation movement. Sixteen prosecution witnesses, including seven seizure-list witnesses and the investigation officer, testified against Azam, while his son alone gave evidence in his defence. One of the charges against Azam was that he was involved in the torture and murder of 38 people. The Pak forces with the help of their local cohorts -- Razakar and Al Badr -- killed them after receiving an order from him. The tribunal also charged Azam with conspiring to commit crimes against humanity across Bangladesh on six occasions. The former Jamaat chief was charged with planning to commit crimes on three occasions. Azam left Bangladesh days before the country became independent after 93,000 Pak personnel surrendered to the joint India-Bangladesh command in Dhaka. He returned to Bangladesh with a Pak passport in 1978 and later became Jamaat chief. Minutes after the tribunal verdict, the Gonojagoron Mancha started a demonstration at Shahbagh. Agitated youth there protested against the judgment, saying they would not stop until the tribunal revised its order. Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker said they were dejected. "We will continue demonstration till the Jamaat leader is sentenced to death." The prosecution also expressed dissatisfaction, having failed to get him the death penalty. It said a decision to appeal against the verdict would be taken once it received a copy of the verdict.

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Bangladesh

GALLOWS for Kamaruzzaman

2013-05-10

[Bangla Daily Star] Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman being taken to jail from court after he was sentenced to death yesterday for the crimes against humanity he committed during the Liberation War. Photo: Focus Bangla International Crimes Tribunal-2 has found Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, one of the key organisers of the infamous Al Badr force, guilty of committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War and has sentenced him to death. The 61-year-old Jamaat-e-Islami senior assistant secretary general was found guilty of mass killing, murder, abduction, torture, rape, persecution, and abetment of torture in greater Mymensingh district in 1971. Tribunal-2 Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan and two other members, Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and judge Md Shahinur Islam, were unanimous in finding Kamaruzzaman guilty and thus they handed down the sentence of capital punishment. The tribunal tried Kamaruzzaman over his crimes in 1971, when he was a top leader of greater Mymensingh Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat, and was also the office secretary of East Pakistain Islami Chhatra Sangha. The tribunal framed seven charges against him but the prosecution was able to prove five of them. Of the five, he was sentenced to death in two charges, life imprisonment in two other charges and 10 years' imprisonment in one charge. "We are convinced from the evidence, oral and documentary, led by the prosecution and the sourced documents, that the accused [Kamaruzzaman] at the relevant time had acted as an atrocious and potential leader of Al-Badr to the actual accomplishment of the crimes charged and beyond," Justice Hassan read from the concluding part of the judgment.

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Bangladesh

War crimes witness testifies against Mojaheed, Azad

2012-11-28

[Bangla Daily Star] Testifying in two cases yesterday, a freedom fighter said he was tortured by war-crimes accused Azad and others after Jamaat leader Mojaheed held a meeting with a Mighty Pak Army officer and Razakars at Faridpur Circuit House. Ranjit Kumar Nath alias Babu Nath told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that expelled Jamaat member Abul Kalam Azad and his cohorts tortured him inhumanly after Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed signalled them to take him away from the circuit house. Ranjit, the seventh prosecution witness in the case against Mojaheed, gave a heart wrenching testimony on how he was picked up by Azad and his associates, confined to a house in Bihari colony, tortured and how he escaped. Ranjit also gave his testimony as the fifth prosecution witness in the case against Azad alias Bachchu Razakar before the same tribunal yesterday. In the case against Azad, Ranjit said Jamaat Secretary General Mojaheed, Bachchu Razakar and some Biharies (Urdu speaking people) welcomed the Mighty Pak Army when they arrived in Faridpur on April 21, 1971. They took the army to Prabhu Jagatbandhu Ashram (temple). "The Mighty Pak Army men shot eight priests dead while Mojaheed and Bachchu were with them," said the 62-year-old witness from Faridpur. The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir with members Justice Obaidul Hassan and Judge M Shahinur Islam recorded Ranjit's separate testimonies. Mojaheed was produced before the court yesterday. Azad is on the run. During his 40-minute testimony in the case against Mojaheed, Ranjit said he was involved with the Awami League in 1971 and took part in several of its meetings and processions. "I took shelter on the outskirts of Faridpur town after the Mighty Pak Army arrived on April 21, 1971," said Ranjit, adding that on the first week of June 1971, he went to the town to collect information about the Liberation War. When Ranjit was approaching the town, one Habi Matabbar, terming him a freedom fighter, handed him over to Abul Kalam Azad, Abul Mia and Kalu Bihari at East Khabashpur. "Beating me up, they took me to Faridpur Circuit House on a rickshaw and Major Koreshi, a Mighty Pak Army official, Mojaheed, Afzal and other Razakars were holding a meeting there," said Ranjit. According to the prosecution, as a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of Jamaat in 1971, Azad was a close associate of the then central Chhatra Sangha leader Mojaheed. Getting a signal from Mojaheed, Azad and his associates blindfolded Ranjit and took him to Faridpur Zila School ground and put him under a plum tree, said Ranjit. After a few minutes a car went there. "Someone in the car in Urdu said, 'Don't shoot him. Hand him over to the Biharies and slit his throat in the morning'," said Ranjit. He said he was then taken near a Bihari colony on Mollah Bari Road. "Hanging me up side down from a kadama tree, they [Azad and others] beat me up for one hour and one of my teeth and a bone of my nose were broken," said Ranjit. Later, they confined Ranjit to a house inside the Bahini colony and around midnight Ranjit escaped breaking through a window, he said.

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