Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (January 1, 2024) urged the people to give a befitting reply to arson violence, BNP and Jamaat by casting their votes in the January-7 general election. “You must cast your vote and protect your vote. Give a befitting reply to arson violence, militant and terrorist BNP and Jamaat,” she said. “BNP and Jamaat want to snatch your votes in the upcoming election by resorting to arson violence,” PM said.   The Awami League chief said this while addressing an election rally, arranged jointly by Awami League Dhaka City South and North units at Kalabagan Krirachakro Field in the city’s Dhanmondi area. She asked the people of Bangladesh to stay vigilant always against arsonists BNP and Jamaat as they want to destroy the country. She urged the voters to go to polling stations and cast their votes in the morning on January 7 so that none can snatch away their voting rights and election.

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka today sentenced Satkhira district Jamaat Amir and former MP Abdul Khaleq Mandal alias Jallad Khaleq and Khan Roknuzzaman, who is absconding, to death in a case of crimes against humanity. A three-member judicial panel led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the tribunal, handed down the verdict. Earlier, on November 11, 2021, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued an order setting aside any day for the verdict (CAV) to be pronounced. Abdul Khaleq Mandal was produced before the court at the time the verdict was announced. The main part of the 208-page long verdict was read out by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Md. Shahinur Islam at 10:30am. Prosecutors Mokhlesur Rahman Badal, Sultan Mahmud Simon and Rezia Sultana Chaman were present at that time.  Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar and Mujahidul Islam Shaheen stood for the accused Khaleq Mandal. While Gazi MH Tamim, being appointed by the state, stood for fugitive accused of the case, Khan Roknuzzaman. The prosecution expressed satisfaction after the verdict as they had pleaded for the maximum punishment. Defendant's lawyer Matiur Rahman Akand, on the other hand, said the verdict would be appealed in the high court. There were four accused in this case. Among the total four accused of the case- Abdullah-hil Baki and Zahirul Islam Tekka Khan, died during the trial.   Charges were framed against the accused on March 5, 2018. A formal complaint was lodged in the case on March 19, 2017. The accused have been charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, detention and torture. Although seven charges were brought against the accused, six charges were presented before the tribunal. Source: BSS AH

No Eid Jamaat (congregation) will be held in the open places or Eidgahs in this year. So the main Eid Jamaat will not take place at the National Eidgah at the High Court premises. But five Eid Jamaats will be held at the national mosque Baitul Mokarram after maintaining the recommended health advice. Along with this Eid Jamaats will be held in the mosques of the locality after maintaining the health advice. The biggest religious festival of the Muslims Eid Ul Fitr will be celebrated on Monday. On Sunday morning Director General of Islamic Foundation Anis Mahmud said, the main Eid Jamaat is not going to be held at the national Eidgah due to corona situation. Not only that this year no Eid Jamaat will be held in the open space. He said, after maintaining the health advice five Jamaats will be held at Baitul Mokarram. We are not going to term none of those as the main Jamaat. If necessary there will be another Jamaat depending on the situation. The government has permitted to organize Eid Jamaats at the mosques following some conditions like using masks, maintaining social distance, bringing prayer mats from homes, not shaking hands or hugging after the prayer. The five Jamaats at the Baitul Mokarram will be held at 7 am, 8 am, 9 am, 10 am, 10:45 am on the Eid Day, said the Islamic Foundation. AH   

The Appellate Division upheld the verdict of death sentence for Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam in a case filed against him for his crimes against humanity. The four member Appellate Division bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain delivered the verdict upholding the sentence at around 9 am on Thursday. The International Crimes Tribunal awarded the death sentence for Azhar on December 30, 2014 over allegation of killings and genocide during the liberation war. The four member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain kept the case CAV for delivering verdict on July 10 after hearing the arguments of both state and accused sides. The other three members of the bench were- Justice Hasan Fayez Sidduque, Justice Jinat Ara and Justice Md. Nuruzzaman. It was the eight case that came to the Appellate Division against the verdict of International Crimes Tribunal and the verdict was delivered. Lawyers Khondoker Mahbub Hossain and Shishir Monir stood for ATM Azharul Islam, the former assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state. AH

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, by keeping country’s highways free from traffic jam in this year’s Eid we have come into the best situation in the history. But we cannot brush aside the chance of sabotage in Eid jamaat. He said these after inaugurating the Highway Police Command and Monitoring Center at Meghna Toll Plaza under Sonargaon in Narayanganj on Dhaka-Chattogram highway on Sunday. In the program Highway Police DIG Atiqul Islam and Narayanganj police Super Mohammad Harun ur Rashid and other officials were present. Obaidul Quader said, as a result of communication system development it needs one and half hours to reach in Cumilla and four hours to reach in Chattogram. The journey of homebound people was unprecedented comfortable. Besides, journey in the northern region was also hassle free as highways were turned into four lanes. After recovering from his sickness Obaidul Quader for the first time came to visit the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. Expressing thankfulness to the almighty the minister said, I have returned from the brink of death due to love of people. So I want to serve people in rest of my life. People recognize for works done with honesty, I have got this. Terming militancy a global phenomenon he said, we have attained capability to face militancy after the Holey Artisan attack. We cannot brush aside the chance of militant attack centering the Eid jamaat. But our law enforcement agencies are active to face that. Besides, for security of passengers police command camps will be set up on different parts of highways. In reaction to a speech of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir the minister said, those who were three times champion in corruption and are being charged with corruption at present, the allegation of corruption does not suit to their mouth. In response to a question of Indian election and government Obaidul Quader said, India is our neighbor country. The problems of common rivers and border issues will be solved, we hope. AH             

Law Minister Anisul Huq said, whether in which form Jamaat will come or not, in that meantime the people who were involved with Jamaat, if they committed crimes then they have to answer. He said these at the ‘Bangladesh Immigration Day’ declaration handover program at the secretariat on Tuesday. The Minister said, the case that is pending in the Appellate Division for registration cancellation of Jamaat. The High Court division has delivered verdict for cancelling the registration of Jamaat. They appealed against the verdict and that is pending in the court. If the verdict is reinstated following appeal in the High Court division then Jamaat’s registration will be cancelled and Jamaat will not remain as a political party in Bangladesh. He said, what we are trying- the anti humanitarian crimes that Jamaat committed during the liberation war in 1971, to bring those under justice. You know that the matter of criminal offenses do not turn null and void. The law minister said, whether in which form Jamaat will come or not, in that meantime the people who were involved with Jamaat, if they committed crimes then they have to answer. If any new face wants to form the party with new shape who was not involved in war crimes then will there be any legal binding- when asked about this, the minister said, we will look into the matter when he tries to do so. AH

Attorney General Advocate Mahbubey Alam said, Jamaat’s registration as a political party has been cancelled following High Court order. In this regard the case is on the trial process with Supreme Court Appellate Division. Prime Minister’s speech of not delivering any executive order over the under trial matter is absolutely right. He said these while replying questions of newsmen at his office on Sunday. The Attorney General said, though the case is pending with Appellate Division regarding party registration but the Election Commission cancelled Jamaat’s registration. Now initiative for appeal hearing will be taken. About Jamaat-e-Islami he said, what is the prime objective of any political party? The answer is to go to power. To go to power they have to participate in election. If you have no license then how would you participate in election? Those who want to do politics without Election Commission’s approval-those are underground politics. Mahbubey Alam said, general people of the country do not accept that kind of underground politics. And the state has no obligation to provide facilities for doing politics to them. So the reality is- to do politics permission should be taken from Election Commission, need license. For cancelling that license of Jamaat the case is pending with Appellate Division. We hope, hearing will take place soon. AH    

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said, the ongoing trials of war crimes and anti humanitarian crimes will not stop even if Jamaat seeks mercy. He said this at Awami League president’s political office at Dhanmondi in the capital on Saturday. Obaidul Quader said, why Jamaat is placing the matter of mercy in front after 47 years of independence- it is unclear. It may be their political strategy. Although they said nothing officially in this regard. But even if they seek mercy then the ongoing trials of war crimes and anti humanitarian crimes will not stop. He said, Jamaat with a new name. If old wine in a new bottle will come then what will be the difference. It will be the same if old ideology remains with a new name. When asked about Prime Minister’s open discussions about her retirement during an interview with Deutsche Welle, Obaidul Quader said, Prime Minister said about her retirement. She also wanted to go for retirement earlier. But she could not avail that due to the demand of party leaders-activists and councilors. Whether the leaders-activists would permit her in future it should be considered. AH   

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif said, Jamaat is preparing with old ideology under new cover. Jamaat is trying to come into politics after changing its name. He said these while answering questions to the newsmen at a view exchange meeting with party leaders and activists and eminent persons at his PTI road residence in Kushtia on Friday. Hanif said, after taking stance against the liberation war Jamaat committed different crimes including genocide after being united with Pakistani forces. After the trial many of their leaders were awarded death penalty. They should have sought apology earlier for their stance against the liberation war. For not doing this they have lost the moral rights of doing politics. When asked about stance of former president Ziaur Rahman he said, Ziaur Rahman did not declare the independence of Bangladesh, before him three persons also declared independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Bangabandhu. Ziaur Rahman never believed in spirit of liberation war. He acted as a Pakistani agent during liberation war. There are many proofs in this regard. AH

Barrister Abdur Razzaq resigned from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami on Friday as he said the party failed to apologize for its anti-liberation war role in 1971 and reform the organization based on reality. The Jamaat assistant secretary general sent his resignation letter from the UK to Jamaat Ameer Maqbul Ahmed in the morning. Reports UNB. In his resignation letter, signed by his personal assistant Kausar Hamid, cited two reasons behind his resignation from the Islamic party. He said Jamaat did not apologize to people for its anti-liberation war role in 1971 and the party could not reform itself in light of reality of the 21st century considering the political change in other Muslim majority countries. “I tender my resignation from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with immediate effect,” Razzaq, who joined the party in 1986, said in his resignation letter. Mentioning that he defended the top Jamaat leaders accused in war crime cases with his best ability, the lawyer said though Jamaat wholeheartedly embraced the independence of Bangladesh, the party’s role in opposing the historic struggle for liberation in 1971 casts a deep dark shadow over all of its achievements and contributions. “For these reasons, I've always believed and continue to believe that an apology by Jamaat to the nation is not only a moral imperative but also necessary to absolve its post-1971 generation of the stigma,” Razzaq observed. In 1971, he said, their predecessors had opposed the independence of Bangladesh and failed to publicly protest the atrocities committed by the Pakistan Army.” In the 47 years since independence, successive party leaderships have failed to apologize for the party’s role in 1971 or even to explain the party’s position on the struggle for independence. Now, more than ever, Jamaat needs to clarify its 1971 stance.” Razzaq said over the last two decades he had been trying relentlessly to persuade Jamaat to have a frank discussion on the events of 1971, Jamaat’s role in those events and why it decided to support Pakistan and apologies for that decision. “Finally, in January 2019, I advised the leadership of the necessity of taking responsibility for its predecessors’ role in 1971. In the absence of any better or viable alternative, I also advised to dissolve Jamaat. But, all my efforts have been unsuccessful. My decades of advice had fallen on deaf ears.” The lawyer also said Jamaat’s failure to address the 1971 issue and apologize has resulted in a stigma being attached to those who were not involved in the decision. This continued failure of Jamaat has given further ground for it to be seen as an anti-independence party. The result is dissociation from people, politics and the country.” After joining Jamaat, he said one of his objectives was to reform it from within and he was continuously striving to achieve that for the last 30 years. “I was for structural reform, and full and effective participation of women. I made my points verbally and in writing. My reformist views are well known within the party.” “And finally, I appealed for bringing fundamental changes to Jamaat’s objects, plans and programs in view of the change in world politics, and particularly, the upheavals in Muslim countries. As usual, there has been no response.” Razzaq said he wishes to concentrate on his profession from now on and hopes to have the opportunity of contributing towards a prosperous Bangladesh. A Jamaat assistant secretary general, wishing anonymity, said their Ameer got Razzaq’s resignation letter on Friday morning. Amid the conviction of Jamaat leaders in war crime cases, Razzaq left the country for the UK on December 17, 2013 and has been staying there since then. AH