'Try Azam for treason'

Since the 1992 'people's court' led by Jahanara Imam, there has been persistent demands to try Ghulam Azam for treason and not merely for crimes against humanity in the 1971 Liberation War.

Now many are raising the demand again.

They say the former Jamaat chief resided in Pakistan, the Middle East and many other countries between 1971-78 and was involved in attempts to re-establish Pakistan rule in Bangladesh.

In 1992, a people’s court led by Jahanara Imam, mother of a martyr, was held in Suhrawardy Udyan where these accusations were brought against Azam by Professor Emeritas of Bengali in Dhaka University, Anisuzzaman.

But the charge of treason has not been brought against Azam in the ICT case, in which he has been found guilty of conspiracy, helping the Pakistani army and allowing the torture and murder of citizens.

“He (Azam) travelled to different countries of the world from Dec 16, 1971 to July 10, 1978 and conspired against a free Bangladesh,” Anisuzzaman told bdnews24.com.

“He always plotted against this country and he still does that. He organised an initiative to destroy our hard-earned freedom. As a citizen of this country I feel harmed by his machinations.”

Some of the specific charges of treason against Azam includes --

* forming a committee with Mahmud Ali and Khwaja Khairuddin in Pakistan and one in London in 1972 to restore East Pakistan

* preaching sermons against Bangladesh in different gatherings in UK, US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Libya

* pleading with Muslim nations to help re-establish East Pakistan at an International Islamic Youth Conference in Riyadh in December 1972

* meeting with the Saudi King many times from 1973 to 1976 to request that Saudi Arabia should not acknowledge or financially help Bangladesh

Anisuzzaman alleged that these charges have not been brought up for the tribunal’s consideration.

"Only those related to his siding with the Pakistani Military and carrying out crimes against humanity have been brought.”

“His scheming against an independent Bangladesh is a continuation of the war crimes he committed,” Anisuzzaman said. "So he should not be spared of charges of treason."

Acting President of Ekattorer Ghatok Dalal Nirmul Committee Shahriar Kabir, also an organiser of the 1992 people’s court, demanded that Ghulam Azam be tried for treason.

Speaking to bdnews24.com, he echoed the sentiments of Anisuzzaman.

“Ghulam Azam has not been tried for the treason he committed. We will ask the government to try him for treason after this trial is finished,” Kabir said. "Whatever the verdict of this trial, he must be tried for all the crimes he committed.”

“Ghulam Azam must be tried for treason under both Military Law and Common Law,” Kabir said.

He further asserted that Jamaat-e-Islam be tried as an organization for playing its role in the war crimes of 1971.

“Another subject is trying Jamaat-e-Islam as an organization in court. We have only spoken of the kind of things this organisation has done under the administration of Ghulam Alam. The government did not listen to us.”

Under pressure from 'Ganajagaran Mancha', the government has now amended the ICT law to provide for trial of a political party along with its members for war crimes.

“So after Ghulam Azam’s verdict, we still want Jamaat-e-Islam to be tried in court where Ghulam Azam will once again be charged,” Kabir said.

He also mentioned the necessity to try Jamaat-e-Islam in court for military involvement.