Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed said, now the country is completely dogged by political instability and economic plight. Due to deterioration in law and order life and property are not safe under this oppressive regime in the country. Price spiral has made life measurable while terrorism and unethical activities are prevailing on the campuses. Unusually chaotic situation has almost destroyed the environment of educational campuses with killing, terrorism, extortion, tender manipulation, seat business in the residential halls and admission business. The shortage of gas, water, power, traffic tailback, poor sewerage system and mosquito menace have made life measurable and unlivable. For shortage of local fertilizer and flooding of markets by adulterated Indian fertilizer the agricultural production has been threatened. When government should have been sincere in addressing the problems persisting in the country, it is rather become hell-bent on unleashing a chaotic situation across the country by detaining and torturing the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir in police custody. In a bid to ban the Islamic movements it is hatching conspiracy not only to destabilize the country’s political scenario but also to impose a secular education on Bangladeshis. On top of that in the name of war crimes trial the govt. is pushing the country to the brink of complete anarchy.
He said these while speaking at a press conference at the party’s central office at Moghbazar in Dhaka on Wednesday. Among others the conference was attended by Nayeb-e-Ameer Makbul Ahmed and Maulana Delwar Hossain Sayedee, Assistant Secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Abdul Quader Molla, ATM Azharul Islam, Prof Mujibur Rahman, Central Publicity Secretary Prof. Md. Tasneem Alam, Dhaka City Ameer Rafiqul Islam Khan, Central Working Committee member Principal Izzatullah, Dr. Syed Abdullah Md. Taher, Dhaka City Secretary Hamidur Rahman Azad, MP, Assistant Secretary Nurul Islam Bulbul, Maulana Abdul Halim and Assistant Publicity Secretary Matiur Rahman Akand.
He said, in this context we have called you here and giving you trouble to uphold Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s view to the countrymen through you on the so- called war crime trial. Actually the so called war crime issue is a settled issue. From the activities and attitude of the government regarding the war criminals I have reasons to believe that the ruling quarters want to stage a farcical trial in a bid to launch attack on the Islamic movements in general and Jamaat in particular. Before investigation and the start of process of trial some pro-government groups and a section of media have become highly interested to make public the so-called list of war criminals. Some persons of ministerial level are also giving fabricated statements against Jamaat-e-Islami leaders blaming them as so called war criminals.
He said, in the last 15 months in power the government has totally failed to address the problems like price spiral, terrorism, killing, extortion, tender manipulation, seat business, admission business, gas, water, power crisis, traffic tailback. The government is losing fast the popularity for its failure in every field. To hide their failure the govt. has rather brought a war crime issue forward by staging a ridiculous trial.
He said, it appears from the situation that the country has no problem but the war crime issue and it is put forward in a way that if the issue is resolved there will be no crisis in the country and the trial will put an end to the gas, water, electricity crisis and the price hike and the rule of law will be established. The problems like food, clothing, education, lodging and treatment will be disappeared with ease and a stream of happiness will flow over the country. The only task of the government is the trial of the so called war criminals. The great alliance has come to power for that. They are trying to bring this situation to the public by beating drum.
He said, govt. has leased out Chittagong, Mongla seaports and the Ashuganj river port to India signing a memorandum of understanding and surprisingly failed to oppose the construction of Tipaimukh Dam on Barak River and to hide this they are using the so-called war crime issue to accomplish the hegemoneal conspiracy by weakening a patriotic force like Jamaat-e-Islami.
He said, after the brutal killing of over 50 experienced and all-round army officers on February 25 and 26 at Peelkhana, our patriotic army and luminous border guard BDR are weakened and put in risk. Two probe committees were formed to investigate into the killing but the committee reports were yet to make public as the authorities concerned want to defend the killers and the beneficiaries of the murderers. The conscious section of the country thinks that target of the raising the issue of the war crime tribunal is also to obliterate Peelkhana tragedy from the mind of the people.
He said, forums like Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sector Commanders’ Forum, CPB, which are vocal for holding trial, none of them represent the People. They don’t have any Member of Parliament and these forums were patronized by power ambitious General Moeen U Ahmed who had masterminded 1/11 govt. and used these forums to divide the nation raising the issue. Failing in their attempt now these forums are taking ride on Awami League to attain their goal. This CPB and other leftists, who got 0.01 per cent of the total vote in the last election, are rather apt in hatching conspiracy than representing the people. These communists convinced the Awami League of 1974 to introduce one-party rule after independence, putting an end to democracy. As again the same group is out to destroy the multi-party democracy. We urge the countrymen to remain vigil against the conspirers.
Referring to the statement of Law Minister, who on his return from the US said on March 18 that war crime trial was not possible but those who committed crime against humanity during the War of Independence will face music and subsequently requested the journalists not to use the term war criminal. Mojaheed said, the ministers and Awami League leaders — particularly Home Minister Advocate Sahara Khatun, State Minister for Law Adv Kamrul Islam and AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif—are maligning the Jamaat leaders linking war crimes only to falsify the impartiality in the trial process as claimed by the Law Minister and his government. Before setting up war crime tribunal, forming the probe body and initiating the process of trial they have resorted to branding Jamaat leaders as war criminals. Now our question how could a section of newspapers publish the fictitious list of war criminals and what was the basis of these media reports.
He said, conscious citizen observes that as the government has no moral guts and also necessary documents to try the war criminals so they are propagating and popularizing a new political jargon ‘crime against humanity’ to this end. In fact it is nothing but political propaganda against their opponents as there are no documents for a fair trial. The ruling quarter is concocting the term ‘crime against humanity’ to misguide people.
Everybody knows that on February 24 an eight-member govt-delegation led by Law Minister went to old High Court building which houses Special Tribunal for trying war criminals. But Sector Commanders’ Forum leader Lt Gen (Retd) Harunur Rashid and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee secretary visited the site with the ministers. Now our question is by which law these leaders can accompany the ministers? Ministers can go to visit the war crime site at HC building but the accompaniment of the two leaders of political bias is tantamount to breach of impartiality of the ministers. These two leaders and their organisations are notorious for their anti-Islamist and also anti-Jamaat sentiments. So it appears from the situation that they want to assail their both political and ideological opponent.
On March 29 last the chief of the investigation agency said, they had initiated the process for investigation and trial process would start the trial procedure, using the documents and information of war crime collected by different agencies during the War of Independence. No decision is yet taken to detain anyone but they can nab anyone anytime on the basis of documents. So it may be said from the situation that govt. wants to use the issue to assail the political opponents.
The terms of reference haven’t been set even after the formation of investigation agency, Not only that they are yet to decide about the investigation process. The very unclear and half-hearted situation, which is very normal, will help government to detain whoever and whenever it wants and hold trial. Unfortunately enough the speech of investigation boss resembles those of the Awami League and Grand Alliance leaders. He has already started serving the purpose of a certain quarter.
He said, we want to ascertain that none of the Jamaat leaders were involved in war crime. Therefore, there lies no scope to link Jamaat leaders with war crimes. On January 1972 Collaborator Act was promulgated and around one Lakh war crime suspects were rounded up. Allegations against 36,623 over 37, 471 collaborators could not be proved due to lack of available data. Only 2,848 of the arrested were brought to trial. Charges were pressed the 752 crime suspects and none of the Jamaat leaders was included in the list. On November 30 in 1973 the then President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman granted a general amnesty for all except those who were involved in rape, arson, looting and killing. And none of the Jamaat activists were involved in such heinous crimes and no allegation was brought against the leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami during the one and a half-year rule of Awami League following the amnesty. Not only that no case even a First Information Report (FIR) was lodged with any police station in the country which bears the testimony to their no-link to war crime.
All of you know from 1996 to 2001 when Awami League was in power didn’t take initiate to try the war criminals and from 1983 to 1990 we launched coordinated movement with BNP and AL against the then military despot H M Ershad. From 1983 till 1990 Jamaat-e-Islami with BNP and AL took to the streets demanding introduction of caretaker govt. to the constitution and Awami League used to consider Jamaat as their ally and also a democratic force. To form a coalition government in 1991 Awami League sent a delegation, seeking support of Jamaat-e-Islami, which couldn’t agree on the proposal. When AL came to power in 1996 a 4-party alliance led by BNP was forged not only to launch movement against the misrule of the govt. but also to form a 4-party government if wins in election. Jamaat’s joining with the alliance annoyed AL seriously. People think as the party previously annoyed, wants to take revenge on Jamaat, so it has set up a tribunal to hold trial of its leaders’ war criminals.
He said, in 1947 on the basis of two-nation theory Congress led India to independence and Muslim League led Pakistan to independence. After independence of these two nations a couple of Indian leaders lived in Pakistan or vice versa and continued their respective political activities. None of these leaders traded blame at each other for their difference in opinion. They didn’t brand each other as anti-liberation forces. None was forced to leave the country. In that context Congress and Muslim League played their national roles. Same is the case in Bangladesh in 1971 the political parties played their respective roles during the liberation war. Those, who were students during the war of independence, are now leading the organisation then what’s the target of war criminal propaganda against this leadership. Now the government is maligning benign Jamaat-e-Islami insanely just to appease their political vengeance and it is unprecedented in the world.
Everybody knows that Razakar (Al Badar, Al Shams) force was formed by the then cabinet secretary of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaq Khan, promulgating an ordinance. People were recruited beating drum in local hat and bazars under the supervision of the CO of local administration, OC, Municipal Chairman and UP Chairman with who Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Sangha had no connection. The govt. gazette on the Razakars does include none of the Jamaat leaders of that time. Jamaat leaders were not general members on the Razakar list in the gazette let alone being leaders of organisation which completely patronized and directed by the Pakistan govt. So Jamaat leaders cannot be blamed for formation and Patronizing of a government agency and if the organisation is held responsible for what it didn’t would be great injustice and oppression.
Moreover, for your kind information, we’d like to tell you frankly that during the liberation war a small number of people were activists of Jamaat, making it into a small organisation. Compared to Jamaat and its student wing today is hundred times bigger than the party was in 1971. With such a small organisation of limited manpower it could do nothing nationally. Now those who are exerting lots of effort to give Jamaat a bad name and hang it are denying the historic truth.
Crimes against Humanity means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, with knowledge of the attack: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, abduction, confinement, torture, rape or other inhumane acts committed against any civilian population or persecutions on political, racial, ethnic or religious grounds, whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated. Jamaat didn’t join the war it merely had a different political outlook. So as per the International law not Jamaat leaders but 195 Pakistan army officers were held responsible for war crime but all of these Pakistan army officers were exonerated from all charges of war crime. They were granted amnesty by founder president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who later sent all army officers to Pakistan. It would be a great injustice if Jamaat leaders are hanged though they didn’t even join the war.
He said, the Jamaat leaders whose images the ruling quarter is trying to tarnish didn’t flee the country after 1971 but rather stayed in the country, take part in parliamentary polls and had been representing people in the Parliament soon after the birth of the nation. A few of them became ministers and served the nation. Not only in national govt. Jamaat leaders also serving the local being elected in local government elections as chairmen and members. If they had committed crime against humanity people wouldn’t have voted them to power as their leaders. There is no single example of a war criminal being a people’s representative. The example of Tokyo and Nuremberg trial is cited but those of the war criminals of the World War II hanged there were all army personnel. They committed war crime and went into hiding till they were pinned down. Those who are still at large are being hunted down. So there are no similarities between the Tokyo and Nuremberg War Crime Tribunal and the Dhaka Special Tribunal set up by Awami League govt. Rather it is tantamount to squeezing a confession of crime from one who wasn’t at all involved in the crime.
The process initiated to try the so-called war criminals appears to the countrymen that the judges of the tribunal, public prosecutor, plaintiff, witness sing the same song and undoubtedly they are picked as they are pro-Awami League and also anti-Jamaat. The way the list of so-called war criminals made and publicized seems to be pre-conceived necessarily with ill-intent. Now the war crime drama will be merely staged as the conscious citizens of the country guess that verdict is also predestined and the only thing remains unaccomplished that is handing down the verdict and hanging of the political preys. If the trial is held flouting the international laws and ethics it will turn into a complete farce, which will not be accepted by communities at home and abroad. The false trial will be nothing but a travesty of truth, creating the greatest ridiculous situation on the planet. Even a section of ministers were unable hide their deep sense of unease at the way the trial process is developing. There are fears of a hidden agenda behind this trial. One picked by the govt. for the tribunal today is dropped tomorrow. The special tribunal formed under 1973 Act has already been called into question by the international community. Meanwhile War Crimes Committee of the International Bar Association has raised 17 objections to the 1973 Act. It may be mentioned here that the committee, which comprises 20 members, includes Yugoslavia International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Justice Richard Goldstone.
We are bound to say that a farce in the trial of war criminals is going to be staged, aiming at dismantling Jamaat. But by the grace of Allah Jamaat has turned into a popular organisation with their love and Doa (good wishes). Failing to face the Islamic party politically in positive, democratic way govt. has adopted an undemocratic and tyrannical course to reign in the biggest Islamic party. If we fail to stand up to the govt’s tyranny we will have to stand the test of principles. Our rights are enshrined in the country’s constitution.
Honourable Prime Minister in the cabinet meeting on March 29 sensed sabotage in the country. She knows what did she mean by that and whom is she suspecting but we want articulate that we will brave all the government tyrannies and oppressions democratically and systematically Insha-Allah.
He said, if the government goes on with their ill-motives we will fight as per our ability for our rights both on court front and also on the political field in a systematic democratic way Insh-Allah and to this end we urge leaders, activists of all tiers and well-wishers to be ready, making all preparations. We also urge the Islamic parties, Islamic scholars, peers, students, labourers and above all the peace-loving countrymen to form resistance against injustice for the sake of truth and justice.
We announce the next programmes:
1. On April 5 a day will be observed across the country demanding electricity
2. On April 11 protest day will be observed in protest at countrywide political repression
3. On April 18 another day will be observed demanding food and jobs for all.
He said, we urge leaders and activists of city, district, Upazilla, and Thana to extend cooperation to stage demo, hold rallies and bring out demonstration to make the Programme a grand success. We also urge the leaders and activists of all tiers to make the next political programmes a success.
Thank you for giving us a patient hearing. Allah Hafez. Long live Bangladesh. Long live Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
