Wheelchair-bound Azam pleaded not guilty after the charges were read out to him for two hours. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
In another move to bring to closure the events surrounding its creation that still haunt the country, the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has sentenced the wartime head of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Ghulam Azam, to 90 years in prison for his role in the atrocities committed in the 1971 war. This verdict is the fifth delivered by the controversial tribunal. Following his sentencing, widespread riots were witnessed in Bangladesh between Azam’s supporters, who claim the trials appear to be aimed towards eliminating their leaders, and the police.
For any nation to move forward, it must make peace with its past, and for nations, whose creations are steeped in bloodshed and violence of the most horrific sorts, this is all the more true. It is also essential because there is a tendency for people to forget, for them to bury what is too ugly to be comfortable, but there lies the danger of not learning from the past, and hence, repeating the same mistakes over and over again. The tribunal’s efforts, taken in this light, are much needed. But the fact of the matter also remains that the tribunal is itself mired in much controversy, with the New York-based Human Rights Watch group stating that its procedures fall short of international standards. Such accusations undermine the workings and verdicts of the tribunals and lend credence to accusations that the trials are politically motivated, and may, if not addressed, lead to more wrongdoing that will then have to be addressed for any true closure to take place.
Indeed, Bangladesh must be careful that these trials being conducted by the tribunal do not turn into a witch-hunt. It is only once the tribunal’s workings are on a par with international standards, that the government will be able to effectively deal with the bloody protests against the judgments and the criticism that the tribunal has faced internationally. This is too important a matter to be mired in controversy and it must be ensured that the whole process is legitimate for it to truly heal the wounds of the Bangladeshi nation.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (11)
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@Brute Force, your views are disgusting. Bangladeshis are a fiercely nationalistic, progressive minded people, and their country is set to emerge an Asian economic powerhouse. they certainly dont need India for their strength of nationhood.
@BruteForce....hahaha I don't know if your serious or not....but it's not like India has a Utopian society free of violence, hate crimes, rape, religious persecution, bigotry, prejudice, racism, poverty, lack of education and the lot....It's funny, rather sad to think how you live in this bubble of yours....
Bangladeshis will whine about have badly they were mistreated for the next thousand years. You should move on.
It is the bangladesis who suffered the atrocities. They know who the butchers are.Tribunal should not worry about international pressure,much less the ravings of Pakistan,and bring these inhuman creatures to justice and punishment.The history must record it for posterity.
Culprits must be brought to justice.Long live Bangladesh.
Its simply political vendetta.
Prof.Ghulam Azam was in west Pakistan at the time of separation in 1971,moreover he has been tried only on the basis of his speeches and not any solid proven evidence. Last but not least, The judicial procedure has lacked international standards and transparency and this is also been acknowledged by United nations. Shame on Bangladeshi govt. for this political revenge campaign !!
@Masood Raja:
India's influence, by its movies, culture, language and music keeps Bangladesh from becoming like Pakistan.
The day they all start hating India, they'll hating their own Bengali culture, which is pretty much Indian. They'll embrace the Arabian culture, like Pakistanis have. They will not have Rabindranath Tagore as their national poet anymore. Bangladesh to avoid extremism, needs to embrace its Indian heritage.
India is the only thing keeping Bangladesh from becoming another Pakistan.
All those who collaborated with the perpetrators of violence in Bangladesh during the Freedom movement in 1971, should be rightfully brought to justice. We are talking about genocide and unspeakable crimes committed against citizens there. Organizations like Jamaat I Islami instead of leading people to spiritualism have indulged in purges and violence, tarnishing the name of Islam immeasurably.
All human rights organizations around the world rejected the kangaroo court of Bangladesh to trail Professor Ghulam Azam and his party officials by Indian stooge Hussina Wajid and her cronies. There were thousands of civil servants, diplomats and government employees of then East Pakistan's administration in 1971 who served for Pakistan and later became a part of Bangladesh. Why BD government failed to trail all of them for treason? It is time for our Bangladeshi friend to move forward. Hussina Wajid, Like her father Sheikh Mujibur Rehman who was assassinated by his own soldiers failed to bring change in the life of a common citizen. Keeping in view India is a part of problem for BD instead of a part of solution.
What about the Pakistani soldiers who committed genocide of Bengalis?
@People Of Bangladesh !! WELL DONE by providing food for life behind bars to This JAMATI BUTCHER, who slaughtered thousands of innocents, who organized CRIMINAL gangs like Al_Badar, to kill, rape and slaughter children of Bangladesh. LONG LIVE BANGLADESH.