Motiur Rahman Nizami The ICT will pronounce today (Wednesday) its verdict on incumbent Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami in a case on the charge of his involvement in wartime crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971. International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim is set to pass the order. Ahead of the verdict, Nizami was shifted from Kashimpur high security jail toDhaka central jail last night. Nizami who got death sentence in 10 truck arms haul case of Chittagong was confined in condemned cell of Kashimpur jail under Gazipur. It is for the first time that the ICT is going to deliver its verdict against the incumbent chief of Jamaat for his alleged involvement in war-time offences. Recently expired Ghulam Azam who was party’s first Ameer got imprisonment for 90 years for wartime crimes on July 15 last year. The security in and around the tribunal and various strategic points in the capital has been beefed up to avoid any untoward incident. Police and RAB equipped with sophisticated arms, water canon and APC are doing duty. Aged around 70, Nizami is facing 16 counts of charges of crime against humanity involving torture on unarmed civilians, plotting conspiracy, planning, incitement and genocide. The Jamaat top leader is accused of superior responsibility in committing and masterminding the war crimes in 1971. Verdict on Nizami was deferred on three occasions in the past for several reasons. The dates for passing verdict were cancelled on three occasions on November 14 and 21 last year and June 24 this year. Nizami was the president of the then Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS) in 1971. According to the case documents, he was involved in the murder of 601 unarmed people and violation of 31 women. Being an auxiliary force of Pakistani occupation army in abetting the war crimes, infamous Al Badr was formed with the members of ICS and Nizami led it. Another charge against him is that he failed to dissuade his subordinates from committing the crimes against humanity. He is also indicted for planning intellectual killing at the fag end of the liberation war in 1971. Innumerable educationists, physicians, musicians, poets and journalists were killed by the war criminals in a bid to render the country devoid of knowledge and intellect. Nizami was arrested on June 29, 2010, from in front of the National Press Club after a magistrate court in Dhaka issued warrant of arrest against him for hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. On July 22 the same year he was shown arrested in the war crimes case. The ICT indicted him in the case on May 28, 2012. In May 2008, the Anti-corruption Commission of Bangladesh indicted Nizami in the GATCO Corruption case, in which he along with several other politicians are alleged to have illegally granted a container-depot contract to the local firm GATCO. A warrant was issued to arrest Nizami along with 12 others on May 15, 2008. He was charged with conspiring with 12 other politicians to award the contract to GATCO although the company did not meet the conditions of the tender. The prosecution alleged that the deal with GATCO caused a total loss of more than Tk 100 million to the national exchequer. Nizami denied the charges as being politically motivated and was enlarged on bail. Following the assassination of the Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975, Ziaur Rahman became president in 1977. He allowed top Jamaat leaders including Ghulam Azam and Nizami to return to Bangladesh in 1978. They revived the Jamaat party which became the largest Islamist party in the country. Nizami emerged as a key leader of the Jamaat. Nizami took over as the Ameer of Jamaat from Ghulam Azam in 2001. That year, he contested parliamentary election as a candidate of 4-party alliance led by BNP and was elected lawmaker from Pabna-1 constituency. From 2001-2003, he served as the Minister of Agriculture, followed by three years as the Industries Minister (2003 to 2006). He was defeated in the 2008 general election. As he was an alleged war criminal, freedom fighters and members of various pro-liberation organizations held protest rally in the capital against the BNP government’s decision to appoint him a minister. They said an alleged war criminal should not be allowed to fly national flag of independent Bangladesh on his car. The 16 charges against Nizami are: Nizami was allegedly the head of the East-Pakistan unit of the then Jamaat’s student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS). Jamaat’s infamous associate body Al Badr was led by him till September, 1971. Later, he became a member of the Jamaat. Charge 1 Mawlana Kasim Uddin, the then headmaster of Pabna Zilla School, was involved in pro-liberation campaign. On June 4, Pakistan forces picked up him. He was persecuted near Nurpur Power House in the presence Nizami. On June 10, he was killed on the bank of Ichamati River. Nizami is accused of guiding the occupation force to hold the ill-fated teacher and kill. Charge 2 On May 10, 1971 Nizami held a meeting with the local members of pro-Jamaat agent peace committee and rajakar at Ruposhi primary school at Bousgari village at Sathia in Pabna. At that meeting, he announced that Pakistan forces were due to come to the area to ensure peace. Later, on May 14, the troops came and killed 450 people of Baushbarhi and Demra villages at Sathia. They also violated 30 to 40 women and forced many others to leave the country at the behest of Nizami and his associates’ instigation and assistance. Charge 3 The camp of Pakistani occupation forces was housed in the Mohammadpur Physical Training Institute during a period from May to December, 1971. Later, Rajakar and Al-Badr also used the place as their camps. As chief of Al Badr group, Nizami regularly visited the place where auxiliary forces abetted the Pak Army to unleash a reign of terror during the war. The intellectuals were taken to the place blindfolded and killed. Besides, women were raped and persecuted there. Nizami also held meeting with Pak forces and hatched conspiracy to commit war crimes. Charge 4 A group of Razakars at the behest of Nizami’s order killed Habibur Rahman Sarder near a bus-stop at Karamja village in Pabna for helping the freedom fighters in April, 1971. Nizami instigated Pak forces to cordon the house of a Hindu man, Megha Thakur at the same village on May 8. Several men were killed and three women raped there. Later, the house was looted and torched. Charge 5 On April 16, 1971, Pak Army assisted by Nizami attacked Arparha and Bhuter Barhi villages at Ishwardi under Pabna killing 21 civilians. Later, the homesteads were looted and torched. Charge 6 On Nov 27, 1971, the Pakistan Army and Rajakars raided Dhulaurha village of Pabna to detain freedom fighters. A number of 52 people including women and children were killed there. One victim was identified as Dr Abdul Awal. The houses were looted and set ablaze. Prosecution said 30 people were brought to a local school and shot dead. The operation was conducted at the behest of Nizami guidance. After the army left, Razakars led by Nizami held 22 more and killed them near the Ichamoti River. Charge 7 At dead of the night of December 3, 1971, being instructed by Nizami, the Pak army cordoned Brishalikha village in Pabna. One Sohrab Ali was drugged out of his home. He was tortured to disclose information about his freedom fighter son Md Adbul Latif Selim. Later, he was shot dead in presence of his family members. Charge 8 Nizami and Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujaheed, then the secretary of ICS, visited the old MP Hostel at Nakhalpara in the capital on Aug 30, 1971. Nizami instigated Pak forces to kill several youths including Shafi Imam Rumi, son of Shaheed Janani (Mother of the Martyrs) Jahanara Imam. Badi and Jalal were also killed there. Charge 9 On Dec 12, 1971, Pakistani forces cordoned Brishalika village of Berha Upazila in Pabna. Around 70 people were killed and 72 houses torched being tipped off by Nizami. Charge 10 Local Razakars set the house of Anil Chandra Kundu at Sonatola in Sathia on fire in Aug 1971. Anil Chandra was involved in liberation war and fled to India. Charge 11 On August 3, 1971, Nizami termed Pakistan as Allar Ghar (house of Allah). He was addressing a meeting organised by Islami Chhatra Sangha at Chittagong Muslim Institute. He said Allah is getting the house protected by Pakistan Army. “..there is no power on earth that can destroy Pakistan,” he allegedly said. The prosecution claimed Nizami intended to abuse religious sentiments of the people to commit crime against Banglaees and freedom loving people. Charge 12 On August 22, 1971, Nizami incited Muslims to banish enemy of Pakistan (freedom loving people). He was addressing a meeting on Al Madani at Islamic Academy Hall in Dhaka University. Charge 13 On September 8, 1971, Nizami said Rajakar and Al Badr are prepared to attack the place of minority Hindu. He was addressing a meeting marking the Defence Day of Pakistan. Charge 14 On September 10, 1971, Nizami called upon Rajakars to discharge their responsibility imbued with religious spirit and faith on Allah. He allegedly misinterpreted two verses of Surah Tauba of the Quran for inciting a gathering of Razakars at a meeting at the Jessore district headquarters. Nizami instigated Razakars to take revenge and banish pro-liberation people and forces. As such, he incited the Jamaat and its auxiliary forces to commit war crimes. Charge 15 Sathia Pilot High School was being used as Rajakar campt during a period from May to December 16. Nizami used to visit the camp and hold meeting with Rajakar Samad Mia resulting in war crimes in the area. Charge 16 At the fag end of Liberation War, Al Badr killed intellectuals of the country. Being head of Al Badr, Nizami orchestrated and caused killing of intellectuals on December 14, 1971.
No comments:
Post a Comment