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Sunday, October 28, 2007

[chottala.com] Well said, your honour


Photo: File Photo
I draw the attention of readers to what former chief justice of Bangladesh Supreme Court Mostafa Kamal told The Daily Star on October 27: "Now it is being said that no war criminal exists in the country. May be after some time it would be said that the Liberation War never took place. This will mean we will be deprived of the real history."

Not only as a citizen, but also as an active or armed freedom fighter of the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971, I am shocked at the remarks leaders of a political party called Jamaat-e-Islami made to reporters after a meeting with the Election Commission on Thursday, October 25.

Chief Justice Mostafa Kamal expressed his suspicion that some day the detractors of the War of Liberation will deny the war itself. Justice Mostafa Kamal did not have to wait long.

At about 9.30 p.m. on Friday, October 26, in a television talk show on Ekushey TV titled Ekushey Shomoy, Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan a former secretary to the government of Bangladesh said that there was no Liberation War of Bangladesh, instead what happened in 1971 was civil war in Pakistan. Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan, in all possibility, represents a thought process of like-minded people who have decided to deny the War of Liberation by calling it civil war. Mr. Hannan is not alone. We need to answer these questions or in other words resolve this issue once and for all.

Many said, in the past, that to raise the issue of freedom fighters and non-freedom fighters is tantamount to dividing the society or opening old wounds or impeding national unity. As a freedom fighter I strongly submit that I have no intention to include among my nation such people who do not recognise the War of Liberation.

The denial of the War of Liberation is something like a child denying the fact that he was born of his mother and that his mother suffered much birth pangs during his birth. May I ask a question to Jamaat-e-Islami and Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan: "Pakistan government in 1971 used to say that the situation in East Pakistan in 1971 was an internal law and order problem. In 2007 Mr. Shah Abdul Hannan says it was a civil war. Question: Was Bangladesh born because of political struggle alone or because of the recommendations of politicians only?"

At least on five successive March 26s (that is in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006) Mr. Matiur Rahman Nizami and Mr. Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed of the Jamaat-e-Islami joined the ranks of other ministers at the national memorial at Savar, because that is the independence day of Bangladesh. Why did these two the then-ministers go to Savar if they did not believe that March 26, 1971 was not the day of independence of Bangladesh!

On the contrary, if they believe the date to be the day of independence, then how can there be a civil war between two different countries (that is a country called Bangladesh and another country called Pakistan). It had to be a war between the forces loyal to Bangladesh and forces who were "occupying" Bangladesh.

Mr. Hannan and his like-minded colleagues must be made to answer, albeit in an honourable and gentlemanly way.

It is high time that we resolve this issue once and for all. No national reconciliation is possible with any segment of the people who deny the process of birth of this country. The blood shed by the millions of martyrs in 1971 will not pardon the present generation or more specifically the freedom fighters who are still living for not ensuring due recognition of the War of Liberation. In this context, I have three specific proposals.

Proposal number one is about a commission. The background to this proposal is similar to the background which necessitates the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh. There is no dearth of reports in the print or electronic media about corruption by members of the political governments between 1991 to 2006. These reports alone are not sufficient to prosecute the people. Formal efforts are needed, that is why the Anti-Corruption Commission does the investigation, charge sheeting, and prosecution.

Similarly, there is no dearth of reports about opposition to the War of Liberation and atrocities by the opponents of the war. Therefore, to formalise the investigations and prosecution in a legal manner, there must be a high powered legal entity.

The name of the commission can be something like "Fact Finding Commission 1971" or "Political and War Crimes Finding Commission 1971" or "History Commission on Liberation War 1971" or some such. Wise people can find a good name.

The terms of reference may include among other matters:
  • What role did the political parties of the then Pakistan/East Pakistan play towards materialising an independent Bangladesh during the period March 26 to December 16, 1971.
  • What support, if any, was available to the Pakistan army in 1971 during its operations in East Pakistan, from the local political parties, or local businessmen, or local citizens.


Priority is for a wide and deliberative enquiry into the entire range of crimes, but if wide ranging enquiry is not possible, then at least enquiry into the possibility of commission of war crimes by those who opposed the freedom fighters of Bangladesh, with armed actions or otherwise, must take place.

The proposed commission may be composed of three retired chief justices or justices of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, three retired freedom fighter general-officers of Bangladesh armed forces, three freedom fighters of 1971 from among general citizens, three former vice-presidents of the Supreme Court Bar and three eminent lawyers of international repute or of international human rights organisations recognised by the United Nations. The composition is also open to further thought and refinement.

Proposal number two is related to the government's decision-making process. I hope and pray that the present government will take the courageous step of addressing this issue of formally identifying the forces opposed to the Liberation War of 1971 and crimes committed by the opposition.

Should the government feel shy or diffident to touch the subject, then the government may refer the matter to the Bangladeshi/Bengali Nation through an independent referendum or referendum-cum-election. But the matter should, repeated should, be addressed. In particular I appeal to the armed forces of Bangladesh who are directly the professional descendents of freedom fighters.

Proposal number three relates to our media. In the absence of an elected parliament, the media needs to play this vital role that I am humbly suggesting. Let all the independent TV channels of Bangladesh organise discussions on the screen, to raise an awareness about war of liberation, the activities of the freedom fighters and the activities of the anti-liberation forces in 1971 so that the people of Bangladesh can take a decision.

We have paid enough price for neglecting the subject, we want to pay no more.

Maj. Gen. (retired) Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, Bir Protik, is a freelance contributor to The Daily Star.
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[chottala.com] Jamat politics and Bangladeshi Constitution

http://www.shamokal.com/details.php?nid=78051

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Re: [chottala.com] According to the constitution Bangladesh has CTG system Go...

Dina,
 
We can say so many things about CTG. They are doing their best to clean up. They are risking themselves too. I believe Bangladesh got the best Head of the country for the first time.Dr. Fakhruddin got international support and all Bangladesh is with him. Now some political business criminals trying to make a mess by rising commodity prices but very soon they will see Tarek Rahman as their next door neighbor. I personally pray for this CTG. to fix Bangladesh.We love our country and we like to see Bangladesh going up no more down.
 
M Amin
 




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[chottala.com] According to the constitution Bangladesh has CTG system Government to conduct fair neutral election. To conduct fair neutral election it needs fair neutral experienced people fair neutral administration. So it is very essential to make a permanent care taker party permanent care taker fair neutral administration in the country.

According to the constitution Bangladesh has CTG system Government to conduct fair neutral election. To conduct fair neutral election it needs fair neutral experienced people fair neutral administration. So it is very essential to make a permanent care taker party permanent care taker fair neutral administration in the country.
Reasons
By asking to this present CTG to form special tribunals for doing trial of war criminals it is proving that the political leaders in Bangladesh are totally inefficient to rule the country. If you ask CTG to do trial after proper investigation then this CTG should need to continue at least 40 years on postponing national election.
Because political government could not be able to file any case to the court for doing trial against any war criminal during last 36 years. Now CTG for doing trial first needs to investigate for finding out with proper proof the persons who were war criminals in 1971 then CTG can proceed to do trial.
So all political leaders must need to support the present CTG continue for doing trials of war criminals by postponing election until finish the trials of war criminals.
CTG is also needed to form a Care Taker Party with care taker neutral administration for doing its functional jobs neutrally.
Present CTG is also required to form a special tribunal court for doing trial for why the political leaders who were in power during last 36 years did not do trial against the War Criminals after proper investigation.
 
 
 

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Re: [chottala.com] CTG needs to continue...A liar and a falsifier of history : Bangladesh Genocide denial by another Jamaati apologist

Mr Abdur Rahim As ad
By asking to this present CTG to form special tribunals for doing trial of war criminals it is proving that the political leaders in Bangladesh are totally inefficient to rule the country. If you ask CTG to do trial after proper investigation then this CTG should need to continue at least 40 years on postponing national election.
Because political government could not be able to file any case to the court for doing trial against any war criminal during last 36 years. Now CTG for doing trial first needs to investigate for finding out with proper proof the persons who were war criminals in 1971 then CTG can proceed to do trial.
So all political leaders must need to support the present CTG continue for doing trials of war criminals by postponing election until finish the trials of war criminals.
CTG is also needed to form a Care Taker Party with care taker neutral administration for doing its functional jobs neutrally.
Present CTG is also required to form a special tribunal court for doing trial for why the political leaders who were in power during last 36 years did not do trial against the War Criminals after proper investigation.
 


AbdurRahim Azad <Arahim.azad@gmail.com> wrote:
 
 
 
A liar and a falsifier of history :  Bangladesh Genocide denial by another Jamaati apologist
This is the same S.A.Hannan who regularly post items from Asia posts in Khabor  forum.
He is a  life long Jamaati-activist, a collaborator of Yahia-Tikka regime and a promoter of
neo-Yazidi political Islam.  It is no surprize that he has now joined Jamaat's latest develish
maneauvers.
 
Visit his latest blog in this forum:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/khabor/message/5712
 
The mass killings in Bangladesh is the most concentrated act of genocide in the twentieth century.  In an attempt to crush forces seeking independent Bangladesh.
the Pakistani military regime unleashed a systematic campaign of mass murder aimed at killing millions of Bengalis in 1971.
Bengali man and boys massacred by the West Pakistani regime. Bengali intellectuals murdered and dumped at dockside in Dacca.
 
 
There was no genocide; it was a 'civil war'
Claims Shah A Hannan

 
Known Jamaat-sympathiser and former Islami Bank chairman Shah Abdul Hannan has described the Liberation War of 1971 as a "civil war". He denied that genocide took place in the country at that time and that war criminals exist here.

Speaking on a talk show, Ekushey Shomoy, on private satellite television channel Ekushey Television on Friday, Hannan also expressed doubts that three million people died in the war and supported a Pakistani report according to which only 26,000 people or less died during the Liberation War.

The following is a transcript of his comments made on the talk show:

DENIAL OF WAR CRIMES
At the Simla Conference between India and Pakistan, Pakistani soldiers were released as war prisoners, not war criminals. So, I am in agreement with [Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad] Mojaheed that there are no war criminals in the country.

There was an Awami League government until 1975 and there was another Awami League government in 1996, under which I worked as a secretary and I was even close to the administration. But they never thought of trying war criminals. Another major party BNP was in power during the rule of Ziaur Rahman and later came to power thrice, and at no point did they try to hold trials of the war criminals.

Since no one is making any claim and there are no cases filed with the court--Bangladesh government is the entity that can file a case and has never filed a case against anyone--I will continue to say there are no war criminals in this country until the government files a case against anyone.

CIVIL WAR, NOT LIBERATION WAR
I frankly think it was a liberation war but it was also a civil war not only in the sense that it was between West and East Pakistan but also because it was a fight between political forces supporting a untied Pakistan and an independent Bangladesh.

If they can prove that these things [war crimes] were done in 1971, let them take it to court. The constitution mentions that Bangladesh was created through a liberation war--yes, it is true. But plenty of people say it was a civil war.

I know this much that in 1971 there was a civil war...Fine, it was also a Muktijuddha...From what I have read in foreign newspapers and encyclopaedia, it was a civil war and most people did not call it a "struggle for freedom". But there is no doubt that it was a genuine freedom fight by the people of Bangladesh. It was an excitable time and the population was also more or less divided. So, those who thought at that time that it was not right to break up Pakistan with the help of India held the view that they should stay on the side of the then Pakistan administration politically, not for violence. The other side thought they should unite with India to gain independence. There were a lot of excesses back then--not only members of one community died--Hindus died, Muslims died, Biharies died, Bangalees died, wives died, children died, women died, men died...And the number, I do not know anything about three million deaths. There was no survey in 1972, not in 1974, and never. That is why these numbers are allowed to be mentioned. I urge the current government to conduct a survey so this problem is solved. It is not right to ask this to the caretaker government, ask this to the next elected government.

Bangalees were on both the sides, involved in the events before December 16, 1971. You have to judge in that political context. I think those who were against the idea of Bangladesh have shifted from that position. A lot of them are my good friends--they are patriotic, they defend Bangladesh, they are in a struggle to build Bangladesh and protect it from the attacks of other countries.

REACTION TO NIZAMI'S 1971 REMARKS
Genocide is a matter of definition. Not everything is genocide. The United Nations has not called this genocide. We can call this genocide or whatever. Nizami could clarify his own quotes. But I know in the context of 1971, there was a civil war...and another war between India and Pakistan. Both Razakars and collaborators were killed as well as freedom fighters. It was a struggle between ethnic and political forces...Bangalees and Biharis were also fighting each other. So, it was not genocide. This is my personal opinion.

HAMOOD-UR-RAHMAN COMMISSION REPORT
[The commission was formed with the then Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Hamood-ur-Rahman as the head to ascertain the facts of the 1971 debacle. It reported that 26,000 people or less died in the war.]

I cannot ignore the findings because he was a Bangalee, a judge of the High Court and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. But, it is our fault that the governments during the rule of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia did not conduct a survey. Wise men are still here who can still say how many people died in which village. Sheikh Mujib first said one million and then said 30 million and he is quoted in encyclopaedias. But they also did not conduct surveys. The truth needs to come out and the government needs to conduct a survey.

The matter of war criminals' right to participate in politics...Well, if they are found guilty, then they have no right to form a party, fine. But, until they are not proven guilty of war crimes they can...But, if they are proven guilty, do not let them form parties, imprison them, hang them, if you need to.

RELIGION-BASED POLITICS
Islam is not simply a religion, it is a life system. You can say about secularism...Sheikh Mujib himself established the Islamic Foundation and the Quran was also recited on the radio during the Liberation War, Allahu Akbar was mentioned several times during airing.

Denying a religion-based political party will be denying the democratic process and the constitution. No democracy can ban a religion-based party.

Religion-based politics...has never been banned in the sub-continent. The Muslim League and the Jamaat-e-Islami India were banned in India but they were cleared by the court.

Bangladeshi Islamic parties have been in existence since 1975. According to the constitution, if any party has any right to be formed, it is the Islamic parties. It is a democratic constitution, not just a large Islamic constitution, and no party can be banned under a democratic constitution, not in England, not anywhere else.
 

 

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