'It was genocide,' Nizami was quoted as saying at 'safe home'
Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami yesterday admitted that genocide and mass rape took place during the Liberation War but denied his involvement in such heinous activities.
The Jamaat chief however claimed he "had to be involved" with Al-Badr and Al-Shams, auxiliary forces of Pakistani occupation army, in the face of death threats.
Nizami made the statement during a daylong interrogation by the investigation agency probing the war crimes at a "Safe Home" in Dhanmondi in the capital.
The investigation agency said they would again appeal to the International Crimes Tribunal for permission to quiz Nizami for what they said he did not give a clear picture about his role in 1971.
Jamaat and many of its leaders several times said no Liberation War took place in 1971. They claimed it was rather a civil war and a war between India and Pakistan, adding, none of their leaders was involved with Razakar, Al-Badr and Al-Shams.
"When we showed him a video clip of brutal killings during the Liberation War and enquired about it, he [Nizami] said it was genocide and mass killing," said M Sanaul Huq of the four-member investigation team after the interrogation ended at 5:10pm.
"Motiur Rahman Nizami also admitted that mass rape and killing of the country's intellectuals took place during the Liberation War. But he denied his involvement very tactfully," Huq told reporters.
Huq also said when the investigators showed Nizami different documents of Pakistan that mentioned his involvement with Al-Badr and Al-Shams, he admitted his involvement with the two auxiliary forces.
"But my speech to Al-Badr activists and other activities and assistance in 1971 were related to inspiring people that I was bound to do due to death threats by the Pakistani army," Huq quoted Nizami as claiming.
The investigation team led by Abdur Razzak quizzed Nizami about his role and political affiliation and entire activities before, during and after the Liberation War.
The investigators also interrogated him on the basis of information and evidence they have collected during investigation into allegations against Nizami.
They started quizzing him at 10:00am and continued it till 5:10pm with over half an hour lunch break. He was brought to the "Safe Home" from the Dhaka Central Jail at 8:40am.
As he was asked different questions by the investigators, Nizami said he is now 70 and can hardly remember the incidents that took place 40 years ago.
His physical condition was normal and a doctor checked his health twice at 10:00am and 1:00pm during the interrogation.
Investigator Huq told the reporters Nizami was responding very slowly and was taking much time to give his replies.
"But we did not put any pressure on him for this," he continued.
The investigators also showed Nizami different newspaper clippings including one from the daily Sangram, mouthpiece of Jamaat-e-Islami, that substantiate Nizami and his party's anti-liberation role.
In reply, Nizami claimed those newspapers exaggerated facts while publishing news.
In the middle of the interrogation, Nizami was allowed to talk to his counsel waiting at an adjacent room. At around 1:00pm, the Jamaat chief took lunch with his lawyer and the doctor.
On quizzing Nizami further, Huq said, "As he avoided questions regarding his involvement in different incidents very tactfully, we need to interrogate him further to get clear answers from him.
"We have specific evidence of his involvement in different matters related to crimes against humanity. But he avoided those issues and in some cases he did not present a clear picture. So we need to quiz him further," he added.
Nizami was sent back to the jail after the interrogation. The investigators said they have maintained international standard and transparency during the interrogation.
Nizami's counsel advocate Tajul Islam and the doctor from the prison hospital were staying at the adjacent room in compliance with the instruction by the International Crimes Tribunal.
The tribunal allowed the interrogators to quiz Nizami and Jamaat Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed on two dates at the "Safe Home". Mojaheed will also be interrogated on similar charges there on May 8.
BRIEFING OF NIZAMI'S COUNSEL
Talking to reporters, advocate Tazul Islam alleged the investigators issued threats and put pressure on his client during the interrogation.
He also claimed Nizami did not say anything to the investigators during the entire interrogation.
News for 'It was genocide,' Nizami was quoted as saying at 'safe home'
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