People of Nizami’s home district recall his horrific deeds

As death closes in on Motiur Rahman Nizami, people from his home district, Pabna’s Sathia, recall his terrifying legacy as Al-Badr commander during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

Pabna CorrespondentSoikot Afroz Asad, bdnews24.com
Published : 5 May 2016, 03:23 PM
Updated : 5 May 2016, 03:24 PM

They were so overjoyed that they distributed sweets after hearing that the final legal attempt to stop Nizami’s execution for war crimes during the Liberation War was dismissed by the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Abu Sama had testified against the Jamaat-e-Islami chief after his trial began at war crimes tribunal in May, 2012.

He recalled a meeting of local Razakars held at Ruposhi Government Primary School at Sathia’s Baushgaria village on May 10, 1971.

“Nizami was there when they devised a plan which led to killing of 800 people by Pakistani soldiers in two nearby villages on May 14. More than 50 women were raped,” said the freedom fighter.

Mawlana Kasim Uddin, a teacher of Pabna Zila School, was captured and taken to an army camp in Noorpurostha on Jun 4.

He was tortured there in Nizami’s presence, he said. The teacher was killed on Jun 10, and his body was thrown into the Icchamoti River. 

In Sathia’s Dhulaori, Nizami assisted the killing of 30 people, said Jamal Uddin, who also testified for the prosecution.

Sathia Muktijoddha Sangsad Commander Abdul Latif was agitated when he talked to bdnews24.com. “We have talked a lot about this in the past. Today’s verdict is the vindication of what we had said.”

There was no limit to Nizami’s misdeeds, said freedom fighter Tofazzal Hossain, as he recounted the killing of 70 people in Brishalikha, a Hindu-majority village in Bera Upazila.

“He also let the Pakistan Army attack Shahidnagar’s Dab Bagan, where several hundreds were killed.”     

“I still get chills when I recalled the atrocities Nizami committed during the war.” 

Abdur Rouf Montoo of Dhulauri village said, “He was directly involved in the killing of my father Abul Kashem Fakir. I was very young.”

“I’m very happy to hear the verdict that my father’s killer Nizami got. But I am also reminded of how terrible those days were. My mother would have been very happy to hear it.” 

“My father, Abdul Awal, too was killed by Nizami. I feel very happy, but I’ll be happier when he is hanged,” said Liakat Ali of the same village.

“Freedom fighters used to stay with my son in my house. One day soldiers at dawn barged into my house and opened fire killing five to six people, including my son,” said Shaheda Khatun of Dhuliuri.

“I still remember that fateful day. But no one cares about us now.”