Jamaat’s Barrister Abdur Razzaq's return being stalled

The government is preventing Barrister Abdur Razzaq, the chief counsel of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders who have either been convicted or are being tried for 1971 war crimes from returning to Bangladesh, a colleague has alleged.

Razzaq, who is also the Jamaat assistant secretary general, has been living abroad for the past eight months.

But a top Ministry of Home Affairs official said there was no information regarding this.

On Dec 17 last year, five days after Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla was hanged for his gruesome crime against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, Razzaq left Dhaka for the UK.

Since then, the lawyer, who also has British citizenship, is living mainly in London.

Lawyer Tajul Islam, who is part of the Jamaat leaders’ defence team, alleged two cases on strike-related violence were filed against Razzaq to prevent him from returning.

He claimed Razzaq’s family was also threatened over phone to ensure that he stayed away.

Islam told bdnews24.com: “This was done following the government’s order.”

“His legal battles have upset the government. Maybe that’s why he has been accused in false cases so that he won’t return. The cases have been lodged in such way that he will be arrested the moment he lands in this country.”

Asked whether Razzaq would be able to come back, Islam said, “He is always trying that. He wants to return home. But the reasons that are stopping him from doing that are yet to go away.”

“How can he return if the situation is not in his favour? We know that he won’t be able to give a truly legal fight. He will face harassment before that.”

Asked about the present state of the defence team without Razzaq, Islam said his absence was making a big difference.

Being a senior Supreme Court lawyer, his argument skills in court cannot be replaced by others, said Islam.

“Our clients are being deprived of his service,” said Razzaq’s colleague.

The Jamaat defence team was formed with Razzaq at its helm, Islam said. It worked following the guidance of a foreign team which comprised British lawyers Steven Kay QC, John Cammegh and Toby Cadman, he added.

“Our team and the foreign team started the defence journey. Before Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was arrested (on war crimes), all the cases were against Jamaat leaders. We defended in each case. Mr Razzaq always worked as the head of the defence team.”

Lawyer SM Shahjahan led the hearing in Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s case in Razzaq’s absence, while Nazrul Islam is on Mohammad Kamaruzzaman’s war crimes case.

Khandker Mahbub Hossain was in the defence team as a senior in the three cases including Molla’s.

Asked why Razzaq was staying abroad instead of returning and fighting the cases, Tajul Islam said, “Everyone knows that Mr Razzaq never joined any procession and vandalised any cars. He has been implicated in such cases nonetheless. Police have also submitted their report.”

He said these cases meant Razzaq would be harassed if he returns and prevented from doing his job.

The government sued them repeatedly only to harass them, he alleged.

Meanwhile, asked about Islam’s allegations regarding obstructions to Razzaq’s return, Home Ministry’s Additional Secretary Md Shafiqul Islam told bdnews24.com that he had no information regarding the matter.

Lawyer Tajul Islam said no one was currently heading the Jamaat defence team in Razzaq’s absence.

“Khandker Mahbub Hossain is the senior-most lawyer. We respect him as our senior. In case of other issues, all of us are coordinating and working together. There is no one specific team chief,” he added.