Prof. Md. Tasneem Alam, Central Publicity Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh issued a statement today protesting a certain quarter’s campaign against Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, centring a statement made by Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and former Minister before newsmen immediately after dialogue with the Election commission held on 25 October.

In the statement he said “a certain quarter is carrying out campaign against Jamaat-e-Islami centring a statement made by Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Secretary General and former Minister. Earlier they carried out this type of confusing propaganda against Jamaat-e-Islami. They have been making fabricated statements distorting Mr. Mojaheed’s speech sidetracking the same knowingly in different times. Their statements are not based on correct information. The then late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman government investigated the matter and identified 195 as war criminals and sent them back to Pakistan as per Simla & Delhi agreements without holding their trial. The detailed information in this connection has been presented before all. ‘Foreign Minister D. Kamal Hossain visited India on 17 April, 1973. On this occasion a joint declaration made by India and Bangladesh was published. In this declaration it referred to send them back to their country and holding of their trial on humanitarian ground and on the mutual basis. (Document of India-Bangladesh-Pakistan Relations Dec. '71—June '74, An Information Service of India Publication, Sree Saraswati Press Limited, Calcutta, Page-43). In this declaration it did not refer to any number of war criminals. On 17 April Bangladesh government issued a press release as regards war criminals for the first time. In the Press Release 195 persons were shown as war criminals (As above, page 43-44). Just after two days of publication of this Press Release D. Kamal Hossain said in the parliament that India and Bangladesh agreed that repatriation of others stranded including war prisoners except war criminals will be arranged on humanitarian ground (As above, 45-46). On the other hand, Indian Foreign Minister said in the parliament on 24 April, Pakistan was not interested with all issues referred in the Simla Agreement. They first want to discuss on war prisoners. Pakistan said that there was allegation of misdeeds occurred by a thousand or more than one thousand Pakistani soldiers and officials. They will accept if Bangladesh holds trail against them on condition that other soldiers and officers will be sent back to Pakistan. But Pakistan is now telling that they will not allow anybody to hold trail against their any soldier...... I hope it will be solved. (As above, 47, 50, 51) After four months on 28 August Pakistan and India issued a joint agreement. In this agreement it is stated that Bangladesh agreed that they would not hold trial against war criminals during the whole period of repatriation of stranded including war prisoners. After repatriation Bangladesh, India and Pakistan will sit together and discuss on war criminals and Bangladesh will discuss on the basis of equal rights (As above, 57, 60) After five months on 13-15 February, 1974 Indian Foreign Minister Sharan Sing visited Bangladesh.  After this visit it was stated in the joint declaration along with other issues that ‘both Foreign Ministers hoped that Pakistan would obey all matters of Delhi agreement (28 August 1973) with credibility. Both countries also hoped that good relation and stable peaceful atmosphere will be created in the subcontinent on the basis of Simla and Delhi agreements (as above p. 63). After two months of this incident on 9 April, 1974 Bangladesh, India and Pakistan signed an agreement. There are 16 clauses in this agreement. Its 12 clauses have given descriptions of those talks, achievement and implementation in respect of stranded repatriation. In clause 13, 14 and 15 of the agreement talks on war criminals and declaration of amnesty were ascertained. In clause 13 peace, negotiation and friendly atmosphere with regard to war criminals was stated. In this talks Bangladesh Foreign Minister D. Kamal Hossain said, it is necessary to hold trial war criminals for clear and definite crime as per the law and international law. On the other hand, Pakistani Defence and Foreign Minister Aziz Ahmad said if any crime occurs, for that Pakistan is deeply sorry and strongly condemning it. In clause 14 it is stated that three Foreign Ministers are seeing the war criminals in good relation and negotiation eye. They said after recognising Bangladesh Pakistan government is appealing to people of Bangladesh to see mistake of the past in the eyes of Forgive and Forget’. In this regard, Prime Minister of Bangladesh said "With regard to the atrocities and destruction committed in Bangladesh in 1971 that we wanted the people to forget the past and to make a fresh start, .... People of Bangladesh knew how to forgive.' In clause 15 it is said that Bangladesh Foreign Minister declared on the basis of the above situation and at the backdrop of Pakistani government’s amnesty appeal to the people of Bangladesh” "The Government of Bangladesh had decided not to proceed with the trials as an act of clemancy. It was agreed that the 195 prisoners of War may be repatriated to Pakistan alongwith the other prisoners of war." This means that Bangladesh government has taken decision not to hold trial against war criminal as sign of amnesty. This decision has unanimously been taken that other war prisoners including 195 war criminals will return home (as above p. 65-68).’ The matter was discussed in detail that identifying war criminals and the issue like amnesty were not made overnight or secretly. Amnesty of war criminals and sending them back to their country were long process and outcome of discussion and everything were open. Signatories of this agreement of amnesty declaration Indian Foreign Minister Sharan Sing and Pakistani Foreign Minister Aziz Ahmed died, but signatory on behalf of Bangladesh then Foreign Minister D. Kamal Hossain is still alive. In accordance with the investigation of then late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman government the war criminals were 195 persons. There are no war criminals except 195 persons. At that time there was no war criminal in the country except that number. Now from where will war criminals come? So there is no war criminal in the country. Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed disclosed this truth on that day. Late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared general amnesty in 1973. The accused who were involved with rape, looting and arson were out of the purview of this amnesty. After general amnesty the Awami League government led late Sheikh Mujib was in power. At that time any case was not filed against any Jamaat leader or worker accusing their involvement with killing, rape, looting and arson. Even any general diary was lodged with any Thana across the country. It proves that then leaders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami were not involved in this type of incident.  I hope that, this confusion will end after publishing this statement in the press.”