” The Razakars…..should be specially helpful as members of rural
communities, who can identify guerrillas (freedom fighters)”, an army
officer (Pakistan) said…The government says it has already recruited
more than 22,000 Razakars of a planned force of 35,000.’-New York Times,
July 30, 1971
‘ To help control of Bengali population, the army has been setting up
a network of peace committees superimposed upon the normal civil
administration, which the army cannot fully rely upon. Peace committee
members are drawn from …..Beharis and from the Muslim Leagues and
Jamat-e-Islami. The peace committees serve as the agent of army,
informing on civil administration as well as on general populace. They
are also in charge of confiscating and redistribution of shops and lands
from Hindu and pro-independence Bengalis. The peace committee also
recruits Razakars……many of them are common criminals who have thrown
their lots with the (Pakistan) army.-The Wall Street Jornal, July
27,1971.
I think, perhaps you remember, Fazlul Kader Chowdhiury …an honorable
person, Sabur Khan, Monayem Khan, Maulabhi Farid Khan of Technaf…. all
of them were pro-’Pakistan. They used to see me. All of them”. – Niazi
“The Betrayal of East Pakistan”
The term Razakar is originally derived from an Arabic word meaning
volunteer. In the context of Islamic history Razakars were volunteers to
defend or support Islam. But in Bangladeshi context Razakar means
traitors or collaborators of the Paki army who helped them, in our
liberation war in 1971, in identifying and killing millions of Bangalees
involved in or even supporting the liberation war. The Razakars were
mainly the members of Muslim league, Jamat-e-Islam and other Islamic
groups and factions. During the liberation war the razakars:
provided intelligence against the freedom fighters, the supporters and sympathizers of the war
abducted, arrested and eventually killed them with the help of the
Paki troops and party cadres in various army, concentration camps and
killings zones
burnt their houses and looted their properties
kidnapped thousands of Bangalee women and trafficked them to various Paki military camps
raped and molested 450, 000 Bangalee women.
Names of some top razakars: Go Azam (Gholam Azam), Monnan, Motya
(Matiur Rahman Nizami, head of Chhatra Sangha, the students’
organization of Jamat-e-islam and Al-Badr and Al Sams forces), Delu
(Delwar Hossain Saidi), Moinuddin (the assassin), Al Mojahid, Anwar
Zahid, Foka Chowdhury. All of them escaped trial following the
assassination of Sheikh Mujib by the army and were later rehabilitated
by the military dictator Ziaur Rahman, the sole beneficiary of Sheikh
Mujib murder.
How the Razkars were created: Politically Razakar forces were created
by the Paki military intelligence (ISI-Inter Services Intelligence, and
possibly with active support from CIA) and they were the predecessors
of today’s Talibans. Members of both the forces, Razakars and Talibans,
were recruited, trained and inducted in the same process. They were
recruited from lower middle class, semi illiterate, Muslim families
mostly from madrasa (parochial Islamic institutes) background. After
recruitment they were inducted to Maududi’s ideology which prescribes
extermination of non-Muslims and liberals. The razakar force was created
to serve as a tool of Paki establishment to systematically turn East
Bangla (as with Afghanistan) into a mere colony. The first step for the
Paki establishment was to destroy in order to take over the textile
industries. They did it in 1964 by means of a series of communal riots,
incited by the activists of Muslim league and other Islamic parties,
forcing the Bangalee Hindu textile owners to migrate. West Pakistani
capitalists, not a single Bangalee, took over all the textile mills: the
Adamjees, the Bawanis and the Ispahanis. Although missed out on the big
bites, the Muslim leaguer and Jamati thugs, however, received the
leftovers: the properties (residential and shops) left by the middle
class Hindu Bangalees.
Once the Bangalee elites were kicked out, razakars were deployed to
force out the educated Hindu middle class. The reasons were: Hindu
Bangalees were politically conscious and they were the patrons of
democracy and liberalism in East Bangla. Communist party where mainly
the highly educated and patriotic Hindus congregated were banned and the
members were brutally repressed by the police forces (they were even
killed in jail). Paki politicians knew very well that they could not
fool the Bangalees as easily as they could the Pakis. The Hindu
Bangalees were highly competent in parliamentary politics, a competence
they learned through anti British movement. The shrewd Paki politicians
knew that the only way to counter Bangalees politically was to rid of
the Hindu middle class by means of Islamic ideology. For this the
razakars came in very handy. They again instigated the common people
against the malauns (the heathens, Hindus). Communal riots surged, Hindu
houses burnt and women kidnapped. All the decent Hindu families left
East Bangla except for the working class and a few die hard patriots
like Dhirendra Nath Datta who refused to leave his motherland even for
his life. It was a great opportunity for the Muslim Leaguers and
razakars. They not only occupied the Hindu assets and properties but
also took over their jobs, professions and trades. The janitors of Hindu
trading houses became the owners of the business, 6th grade pass peon
of schools became the headmaster and that of college became lecturers
and principals. The Hindus fought the British for their independence but
kicked out of their motherland by the Muslim leaguers and razakars who
had no contribution in anti British movement. What an irony of fate. How
horrible Islam as an ideology.
Towards the end of the liberation war, the razakars realizing that
they could not stop the liberation (thanks to Russian and Indian support
and extraordinary leadership of Tajuddin Ahmed) of Bangladesh,
inflicted the deadliest blow against the emergent nation: they killed
the top Bangalee intellectuals and professionals. The blueprint for the
elimination of Bangalee intellectuals was done even before the start of
the war. The blueprint was done by the ISI headed by its Eastern
commander Gen Rao Forman Ali in collaboration with the top Jamati /
Muslim League leaders (see photo on Genocide page).
The Razakars were behind the killing of a total number of 3 million
Bangalees and rape and molestation of 450, 000 Bangalee women. After
independence the Awami league Government arrested most of them. But due
to political pressures from both home (Maulana Bhasani) and abroad (USA,
all the Middle Eastern countries led by Saudi Arabia) Sheikh Mujib
released the minor Razakars from imprisonment under general amnesty. But
Sheikh Mujib never forgave the top Razakars. The leader of
Jamat-e-Islam Go-Azam’s citizenship was revoked. Motya and other top
leaders were in jail under trial. After the assassination of Mujib, the
whole political scenario was changed. Zia granted Go-Azam Bangladeshi
citizenship, released all the Razakars imprisoned on various criminal
charges and by amending the constitution allowed them to be involved in
politics (Mujib banned communal politics). Not only that under the
banner of his new party BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) he
rehabilitated all the notorious Razakars and Muslim Leaguers (awarded
premiership to a notorious razakar Shah Aziz)
Following Zia’s lead his successor Ershad, in the midst of his
massive screw ups, kept pampering the Razakars and the Muslim leaguers.
As a result of fifteen years of pampering the once loathed Razakars now
became the most powerful people of Bangladesh, a country ironically they
fought against. Being in power they deliberately destroyed (while the
BNP leaders were busy stealing the public money to get rich) the main
political / social institutions of Bangladesh and rewrote the history of
our liberation war. The 71 episode is banished from the history texts
of Bangladeshi schools. Their mentor Zia (an ordinary major in 1971 who
even helped Pakis in clearing the weapons later used to gun down
Bangalees and changed side only when he realized he was to be disposed
after the weapons were cleared) is portrayed as the leader of the
liberation war and Mujib is condemned as a traitor who betrayed the
infamous Lahore Convention- root of all political evils in Indian sub
continent.
Since 1947, the razakars have been doing the same thing again and
again: they are using Islamic ideology to counter democracy and
liberalism; with their usual recourse to fascism and violence they are
keeping social progress at bay (Islam represents feudalism not
capitalism, although created by USA specially the CIA, Bin Laden hates
America), they are indirectly helping the capitalist countries to keep
Muslim countries as markets.
On behalf of the 3 million Bangalees who gave their lives for the
liberation war and 450, 000 Bangalee women, raped and molested by the
Pakis and the Razakars, Muktadhara demands the trial of all the war
criminals and Razakars of Bangladesh liberation war.
Atrocities of the Razakars
The atrocities of the razakars in killing the Bengalis equaled
those of their Pakistani peers. An excerpt from an article written in
the Azad, dated January 15, 1972, underscores the inhuman atrocities of
the Pakistani troops and their associates, the razakar and al-badr
forces:
‘….The people of Narail can bear witness to the reign of terror, the
inhuman atrocities, inflicted on them after (General) Yahya let loose
his troops to do what they would. After March 25, many people fled
Jessore in fear of their lives, and took refuge in Narail and its
neighboring localities. Many of them were severely bashed by the
soldiers of Yahya and lost their lives. Very few people ever returned.
Bhayna is a flourishing village near Narail. Ali Akbar is a well-known
figure there. On April 8, the Pakistani troops surrounded the village on
the pretext that it was a sanctuary for freedom fighters. Just as fish
are caught in a net so too were the people of this village all
assembled, in an open field. Then everyone- men, women, and
children–were all forced to line up. Young men between the ages of 25
and 30 were lined up separately. 45 people were shot to death on the
spot. Three of Ali Akbar’s brothers were killed there. Ali Akbar was
able to save himself by lying on the ground. But no one else of that
group was as fortunate. Nadanor was the Killing field. Every day 20 to
30 people were taken there with their hands tied behind their backs, and
killed. The dead bodies would be flung into the river. Apart from this,
a slaughter house was also readied for Bengalis. Manik, Omar, and
Ashraf were sent to Jessore Cantonment for training and then brought to
this slaughter house. Every day they would slaughter 9 to 12 persons
here. The rate per person was Taka ten. On one particular day, 45
persons were slaughtered here. From April 15 to December 10, the
butchery continued. It is gathered that 2,723 people lost their lives
here. People were brought here and bashed, then their ears were cut off,
and their eyes gouged out. Finally they were slaughtered… : The
Chairman of the Peace Committee was Moulana Solaiman. With Dr. Abul
Hussain and Abdul Rashid Mukhtar, he assisted in the genocide. Omar
would proudly say, “During the day I am Omar, at night I am Shimar(
legendary executioner famous for extreme cruelty). Don’t you see my
dagger? There are countless Kafirs (heretics) on it.”
Ms Hamida Rahman “Narail: Hattyajanger Arekti Baddhabhwni” (Narail: Another Golgotha)
Abbas Ali Khan
Abbas Ali Khan was the second in command in Jamat. Until Golam Azan
was officially declared to be the Ameer (or Leader) of the party, Khan
acted as the chief. Khan’s role in 1971 was against the independence of
Bangladesh, and against the spirit of Bengali nationalism. In 1971, he
was the deputy chief of Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami. Khan gave leadership
to para-military forces such as the Razakars, Al-Badrs and Al-Shams, all
formed by the Jamaat and like- minded parties in cooperation with the
Pakistan army. The principal aim behind formation of these three forces
was to provide battle-field support to the military, gather intelligence
about local resistance groups, identify and eliminate Bengali
nationalist elements, and carry out raids on villages involving mass
killngs, rape, arson and lootings. The Pakistan army enjoyed direct
assistance from these paramilitary forces in its campaign of genocide
which resulted in the death of three million unarmed people of
Bangladesh. Abbas Ali Khan abetted and encouraged Pakistan army’s
genocide through speeches at countless rallies, statements to and,
articles in newspapers etc. Khan also played a leading role in the
central “Peace Committee”, which was set up to directly and indirectly
assist the Pakistan army’s campaign in Bangladesh. The “Peace Committee”
formed branches all over the country, manned by local leaders of Jamaat
and camp-followers. These committees acted as the political wing of the
three paramilitary forces and played an active role in assisting
Pakistan army’s attempt to brutally suppress the Bengali’s struggle for
freedom in 1971.
According to reports in the press during 197 1, Khan became a
minister in the cabinet of governor M A Malek, after taking part in a
series of stage-managed parliamentary by- elections. The seats put up
for by-elections were all held by members of the Awami League. The seats
were declared vacant by the Pakistan military junta after the Awami
League was banned on Mar 26, 197 1. Khan assumed the office of the
minister for education in Malek’s puppet government on Sept 17, 1971.
On Nov 25, Abbas Ali Khan said in a statement, “I have no doubt that
the Indian army has began a shameless aggression in several fronts under
the guise of the Mukti Bahini with the despicable aim of swallowing
East Pakistan. Our armed forces alone cannot carry on this war. It is
the duty of every citizen to strengthen the hands of our soldiers and
help save the dignity of our dear Pakistan”. In the same statement, with
an oblique reference to Bengali intellectuals and freedom fighters, he
called on people to “stay alert against people engaged in anti-state and
destructive activities. Help the armed forces and the Peace Committees
to eliminate these elements”.
On Dec 10, just four days before the killings of intellectuals
reached its peak, he said in another speech, “In the Battle of Badr,
only 313 Muslim troops faced over 1,000 Kuraish, and were victorious.
Today, 130 million people (the then population of West Pakistan and
Bangladesh combined) are fully prepared to defend this sacred land. Our
enemies are the rumor mongers, the agent provocateurs and those who
propagate in favor of India or that imaginary country Bangladesh. You
have to be ware of these enemies. Smash their poisonous fangs at the
first opportunity. Join hands with our Razakar, Al-Badr and Al- Shams
forces and dedicate yourself to the task of saving the country.”
Governor Malek formed several sub-committees in December to
strengthen the attack of Pak army. Khan was put in charge of the
information sub-committee, along with A S M Solaiman. Khan continued to
propagate against Bangladesh even after 197 1. In 1980, while addressing
his first post- 1971 press conference, Khan showed no remorse for what
he or his party had done. Instead, he said, “We did the right thing in
1971 . ” Even today, Khan continues to conspire against the independence
of Bangladesh and against the Bengali national identity of the people.
He continues his efforts to turn Bangladesh into a second Pakistan.
Mohammad Kamruzzaman
Mohd Kamruzzaman was the former executive editor of the Jamati
mouthpiece Daily Sangram, and presently editor of the weekly Sonar
Bangla. In 1971, Kamruzzarnan was the leader of the Islami Chattra
Sangha (Islamic students organization) in Mymensingh. He was also the
principal organizer of the Al-Badr force. An article in the Daily
Sangram on August 16,197 1, said, “A rally and symposium were organized
in Mymensingh by the Al- Badr to celebrate the 25th independence day of
Pakistan. The chief organizer of the Al-Badr, Mouhammed Kamruzzaman
presided over the symposium held at the local Muslim Institute.”
Kamaruzzaman’s war crimes:
1. According to one Fazlul Huq of Sherpur area, father of a martyr,
an 11 member Al-Badr squad led by Kamruzzarnan took away his son
Badiuzzaman sometime in June or July in 1971. Huq said his son was taken
to the Pakistan army camp in nearby Ahmednagar and murdered. After
independence, the late Badiuzzaman’s brother Hasanuzzaman filed a case
at the Nalitabari police station, with Kamruzzaman as the principal
among the 18 accused in the murder of Badiuzzaman.
2. In the same Sherpur area, one Shahjahan Talukdar told that cadres
of the Al-Badr kidnapped his cousin Golam Mostafa on August 24, 197 1,
in broad daylight. Mostafa was then taken to the local Al-Badr camp
which was set up in a house on Surendra Mohan Road of Sherpur town.
After brutally torturing Mostafa at the camp, Al-Badr forces took him to
the nearby Sherry Bridge and shot him dead. Kamruzzarnan was known to
have ordered the killing. Many others in Sherpur confirmed that the
killing of Golam Mostafa was carried out on Kaniruzzaman’s direct order.
3. Allegations of torture at the Al-Badr camp in Sherpur were also
made by Tapas Shaha, a former student leader of the area. He said men,
women and youth of the area used to be taken forcibly to the camp where
Al-Badr cadres under direct supervision of Kamruzzaman used to carry out
gruesome acts of torture. For instance, one Majid, at the time an
elected office-bearer of the town council, was taken to the camp and
kept inside a darkened hole for a whole day.
4. In the middle of May, the then head of the Dept of Islamic History
and Culture at Sherpur College, Syed Abdul Hannan was paraded through
the streets of the town, totally naked, with his head shaven and a
“garland” of shoes around his neck. Kamruzzaman and his cohorts dragged
the professor around the town in mid-day, beating him with leather whips
as he was dragged, Tapas Shaha told the Commission.
5. Ziaul Huq, a former leader of Awami League, said he was taken by
three Al-Badr men on August 22 at around 5pm. He was then kept at the
camp for two days, in the darkened hole. He said Kamruzzaman run the
torture center. He was released after being told to leave the area,
otherwise he was told he would be killed,
6. Emdadul Huq Hira, a former freedom fighter and currently a leader
of the Jatiya Party, said his home was burnt down by Pakistani troops
who were being guided by Kamruzzaman. He told the Commission that the
troops set up five bunkers in the premises of his home, and used a big
tree in the courtyard to tie up prisoners before shooting them dead.
7. Another eye-witness Musfiquzzaman, currently a teacher at the Haji
Jai Mamud College in Sherpur, said that homes and business
establishments at Tin Ani Bazar were looted in the middle of August in
the presence of and under the leadership of Kamruzzaman.
8. One eyewitness, who worked as a driver of trucks which were used
to carry troops as well as prisoners and dead bodies, said that
Kamruzzaman guided Pakistani troops to the house of a freedom fighter
identified only as Honta. The troops burned the house down, the driver
said.
There were also allegations that Kamruzzarnan organized and led robbery gangs in the area.
Abdul Alim
A former minister in the cabinet of late president Gen Ziaur Rahman
(1977-81), Abdul Alim served as the chairman of the “Peace Committee” in
Joypurhat in 1971.
1. The first piece of evidence against Alim is given on page 38- 39
of the The Killers and Collaborators of 1971: An Account of Their
Whereabouts. It says, “Abdul Alim himself carried out execution of
Bengalis by lining them up in rows and then shooting them. Besides,
there are many allegations of Alim killing Bengalees by bayonet
charges”.
2. The same book carries a photograph from a newspaper of the period,
which shows a beaming Alim standing beside one Major Afzal of the
Pakistan army. Sitting on the ground were a number of freedom fighters,
blindfolded and with their hands tied behind their backs. “Those freedom
fighters were paraded through the town and later shot dead.”
3. According to Dr Kazi Nazrul Islam of Joypurhat, son of late Dr
Abul Kashem, on July 24, 197 1, Razakar forces in association with the
Pakistani troops raided his father’s home and took the latter away. This
was done on the orders of Abdul Alim, he said. After torturing Kashem
throughout the night, the Razakars took him to Alim at the “Peace
Committee” office. Kashem was then sent to Joypurhat police station, and
finally to Pakistan army camp at nearby Khanchanpur. On July 26, Kashem
was murdered on the order of Alim. Kashem’s decomposed body was
discovered in a sugarcane field a month later. The killing of Abul
Kashem on the orders of Abdul Alim was confirmed by many others in the
area, including elected village council chairman of Bomboo Union Molla
Shamsul Alam.
4. Molla Shamsul Alam, an eyewitness to the activities of Alim,
narrated the tale of one freedom fighter, Fazlu who was captured by
Pakistani troops after a fire-fight. He said the Pakistanis took Fazlu
and two other prisoners to Abdul Alim at the C&B Colony hall room.
Outside, Alim stood on truck and said to supporters gathered there,
“Fazlu’s father is a friend of mine. I had repeatedly asked him to
dissuade his son from this path, but he didn’t. Today he has to be to
given his punishment, and that is death. I ask you all to find out those
who still talk of Joy Bangla (Victory to Bengal, war-cry of the freedom
fighters), in your neighbourhoods and beat them to death”. Fazlu and
others were then taken to Alim’s house where they were put through
inhuman torture. Later they were taken to the killing grounds in
Khanchanpur and murdered.
5. Molla Shamsul Alam also alleged in his testimony that Alim carried
out killings of poor members of the Garoal community. In April 1971,
Pakistani troops arrested 26 Garoals and took them to Alim’s house. They
were kept there for three days, then taken to Khanchanpur and killed.
Alam further said that Alim used his house as a recruitment camp for
Razakars during 197 1. Recruitment of Razakars was one of Alim’s duties.
6. Alam also said that in April, Pakistani troops surrounded the
Hindu area of Koraikadipur village in Joypurhat and massacred 165 men
and women. This raid was carried out on the orders of Alim and Jamaat
leader Abbas Ali Khan, he said.
7. In addition to allegations of murder and torture, there are
accusations of rape against Alim. Shamsul Huq, an elected village
council chairman, said that Alim always justified acts of murder, rape
etc., by Pakistani troops and Razakars. According to Huq, Alim used to
say that “troops do these sort of things at war time. This is not a
fault. We have to accept it in the interest of the country”.
8. Shamsul Alam, an associate professor at Joypurhat College, said
that Alim and his cohorts once paraded 26 captured freedom fighters
around the town on trucks before the prisoners were put to death. Before
killing them, Alim put the prisoners on display in the play ground of
Joypurhat College, where he told the students, “You can all understand
the fate of these prisoners. They are all going to die. If you students
join the Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters), then your fate will be the
same”.
9. ldris Ali, another resident of Joypurhat, said he entered his
home-town on December 5 along with other freedom fighters. They captured
the “Peace Committee” headquarters the same day, and discovered various
documents, including lists of intellectuals earmarked for elimination.
Among the documents was minutes of a meeting held on Dec 4 and presided
over by Abbas Ali Khan. The minutes bore Alim’s signature. There were
many other eyewitness reports by local inhabitants of the killings,
torture and repression carried out in the area by Alim.
Abdul Kader Mollah
Abdul Kader Molla was known as a “butcher” to the Bengalis in Mirpur
area (outskirts of Dhaka city) during 1971. Mirpur at the time was
mainly populated by Behari (non Bengali) Muslim migrants from India, who
were among the most ardent supporters of the Pakistani occupation of
Bangladesh.
One of the largest mass graves of people butchered by Pakistani
troops and their allies was discovered in the Shialbari area of Mirpur
after independence. According to the locals of Mirpur area Molla was
instrumental to the the killing of thousands of Bengalis in Shialbari
and Rupnagar areas of Mirpur during the war. Many of them confirmed that
Molla began his killing spree even before the army had began its
operation.
On March 6, a public meeting was arranged in front of the gate of
Ceramic Industry at Section 6 in Mirpur, to press for demands of the
Bengali people. As the people raised the nationalist slogan Joy Bangla
(Victory to Bengal), narrated M Shahidur Rahman who was present at the
meeting, Kader Molla and his gang attacked the meeting with swords,
machetes and other sharp weapons, injuring many.
According to M Firoze Ali, a resident of Block B at Section I in
Mirpur, Kader Mollah was behind the killing of his brother Pallab
Tuntuni, an 18-year old student. Young Tuntuni was an active supporter
of the nationalist leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and that was why his
name was penciled into Molla’s hit list. On March 29, Molla’s hit men
kidnapped Tuntuni from another part of the city and took him to Mirpur.
The boy was then dragged from one part of Mirpur to another, and back
again, with his hands tied behind his back. At a big play ground used
usually for major religious congregations, Tuntuni was tied to a tree
and left for two days. Later, Molla’s men returned and chopped off the
boy’s fingers. On April 5, a week after being kidnapped, Molla ordered
his men to shoot Tuntuni dead. The boy’s dead body was left dangling
from the tree for another two days as a warning to others in the area,
before being thrown in a mass grave with seven other bodies, Feroze Ali
said.
Another eyewitness to Molla’s criminal activities in 1971 was M
Shahidur Rahman Chowdhury. He said that Razakarmen under the command of
Kader Molla brutally murdered woman poet Meherunnessa in October at
Section 6 of Mirpur. He said one Shiraj, who lived in the poet’s home,
lost mental balance at the sight of the murder. Shiraj still suffers
from psychological disorder, Chowdhury said.
There are also allegations from the inhabitants’ of Mirpur area that
Molla organized local non-Bengali people of Manipur, Sheorapara,
Kazipara areas of Mirpur into armed groups under his own command. With
those (Behari) armed bands, Molla organized killings of thousands of
Bengalis at various killing fields of Mirpur.
A S M Solaiman
A S M SOLAIMAN, son of Md. Jonab Ali, Village – Boydder Bazar, Post
Office – Boidder Bazar, Thana – Soanargaon, Dist – Narayanganj. At
present : 20/1, Pallabi, Thana – Pallabi, District – Dhaka. He is the
president of Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Party now.
Solaiman as the minister of Malek cabinet of with the portfolio of
Labour, Social welfare and Family Planning and as chief of the district
coordination committee presided over a meeting with DC office, police
officers and other communities on December 8, 1971. The meeting
expressed firm determination to maintain law and order and took some
decision.
From the very beginning of the war, Solaiman was very active. In a
statement on April 8, 1971 he called upon the then armed forces for
‘bringing back normalcy in the country by fighting the anti-social and
anti-state elements’. On May 7, he also called upon the members of the
Peace Committee at a meeting to ‘check all common people and anti-state
elements’ in a bid to catch the freedom fighters. On November 15, 1971,
he told newsmen in Karachi, “Razarkers were doing praise-worthy and they
should be called the national heroes.” (Genocide ’71 : An Account of
the Killers and Collaborators, Edited by Dr. Ahmad Sharif, Qazi
Nur-uz-Zaman, Dr. Serajul Islam Chowdhury & Shahriar Kabir,
published by Muktijuddha Chetona Bikash Kendra, Dhaka, February 1987).
Inhabitants in Sonargaon brought allegation against Soliman of direct
or indirect involvement in killing, looting, torching, raping and
various forms of atrocities. President of Aminpur Union Awami League and
an elected Union Parishad Member, Mohammad Tayebur Rahman, narrated
formation of Razaker Bahini by ASM Solaiman in 11 unions of Sonargaon
thana.
Tayebur informed Solaiman had appointed every chairman of the then
Union Parisads as chairman of the ‘Peace Committee’. Among them (1) Raja
Moulavi of Aminpur (2) Shamsul Haq Khan of Perojpur (3) Alauddin of
Boiddyer Bazar (4) Gafur Sarker of Sammandi (5) Abdul Mannaf Bhuiyan of
Jampur UP (6) Hossain Khan of Kanchpur (7) Bakhar Ali of Sathipur (8)
Nasiruddin of Noaga (9) Abdur Rob Milkey of Barodi (10) Rafiqul Islam of
Mograpara and (11) M A Jaher of Shomvupura Union Pariashad were
appointed as chairmen of the Peace Committee. Soanrgaon Peace Committee
chairman ASM Solaiman led them as their leader. M A Zaher was also
appointed the General Secretary and Raja Moulavi as Organising Secretary
of Sonargaon unit of Peace Committee (PC). Alauddin and Mohiuddin
Mollah, a brother of Solaiman, acted in absence of Solaiman.
Tayebur Rahman also informed that Jamir Ali Kerani, an associate of
Solaiman, handed over a Hindu girl named Bibha Rani to the Pakistani
occupation forces in mid-May .The military-men released her in a
critical condition after raping overnight. Bibha is now in India. Ali
also led an attack on the home of one Narendra Patel in Boiddyer Bazar.
Tayebur at that time risking his life reached at the scene and rescued
five girl from the scene and taken to a nearby village for their safety,
he said.
Tayebur said that the Soliaman-gang had attacked on a freedom
fighters’ meeting on May 24 at Boiddyer Bazar. Tayebur was caught by the
PC members twice and was released on request from a non-bengali
postmaster at the area. The gang, he said, set on fire homes, more than
hundred in Sammanadi, ten in Companiganj, five in Shatipur and the
entire homes of Pirojpur village. Jamir and Allauddin executed the plan
of Solaiman from women supply to torching.
Moshammat Azimon Nahar of Haria Gopindi village told the commission
that her husband Siddiq Mia was killed on December 14 near Adamjee area.
She alleged Soliamn’s gang and local razakars were involved in her
husband’s killing. She demanded trial of her husband’s killing.
An Awami League worker, Sumon, of Hatkopa village when appeared to
the commission said, the Pakistani forces attacked his home with the
help of Tekka Shamsu, a trust-worthy associate of ASM Solaiman, in a bid
to catch the young women of his home. He said the women saved them
hiding in a nearby jute plantation.
Freedom fighter Nurul Islam of Basan Daradi village said,
geographically Sonargaon was ab important area and all goods were being
transported through the Sonargaon river port. At the very beginning of
the war Solaiman and his associates, especially the Razaker Bahini, used
to loot the goods like rice, sugar, flour, oil, fertiliser, tea etc.
from various vehicles. Traders lodged a number of complaints at freedom
fighter’s camp in Sammanadi village, according to Islam.
He said being informed by the Razakars, Pakistani forces unleashed
attack on the training camp of the freedom fighters at that village.
During the attack the Razakars on their way took away two young girls
from the village. But none of the girls returned. He said many such
incidents were suppressed social humiliation apprehending.
According to eyewitnesses account, Razakars set their eyes on the
Hindu dominated Shahapur, Baninathpur, Joyrampur, Vattapur,
Barirghubhanga, Baghmucha, Panamnagar, Boiddyer Bazar, Satbhayapara,
Ramganj and Panchabati for the Hindu girls. As per the directions from
Solaiman, Jamir Kerani and Shamsu led the Razakers to supply women to
the Pakistani camp at Boiddyer Bazar.
Apart from this, the commission learnt that a number of incidents of
firing, looting and killing took place in the area perpetrated by the
Razakars led by Solaiman and his associates.
Maulana Abdus Sobhan
MOWLANA ABDUS SOBHAN, son of late Noimuddin, Pathartala, Pabna, is
the member of the fundamentalist Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s central
Shura (committee) and Member of Parliament elected from Pabna Sadar in
1991, and deputy leader of the Jamaat’s parliamentary group.
Sobhan had been serving the Jamaat-e-Islami as acting Ameer (chief)
of Pabna during the liberation war and he nominated for the so-called
by-election in 1971. He was the vice president of Pabna unit of Peace
Committee, an organisation of Pakistani collaborators. Field level
investigation revealed that Sobhan organised the Al-Badar, Razakar and
formed the PC and had been involved in a number of criminal activities.
As he was fluent in spoken Urdu, he easily managed to come close to the
Pakistanis and become a policy maker of anti-liberation forces. He
supervised almost every activities of the Razakers and Al Badars.
Sobhan was implicated in a special tribunal case for his activities
against the freedom struggle and killing of the freedom fighters,
innocent people and assisting in killing 3 million people, assaulting
and repressing women and other heinous activities. He was asked to
attend before the Sub-divisional magistrate court on February 29, 1972.
But he fled to Pakistan with Gulam Azam at that time (Source :
‘Ekattorer Dalalra’ by Shafiq Ahmed and Advocate Shafiqul Islam Shibly,
Patahrtala Pabna).
Like Dhaka, Pakistani forces also unleashed attack on innocent people
of Pabna on the very night of March 25, 1971. But the situation in
Pabna was a bit different. An aged woman told the investigation
commission that the Pakistani forces caught Pabna’s eminent
personalities searching their homes and brought to their camps on the
night. On March 26, she said that she had been seeing an army lorry
stopped on the road at Rayer Bazar area. More or less 100 people were
tied with rope behind the van. They were being dragged. Their clothes
have been tore, blood letting from injury marks. She witnessed Mowlana
Sobhan along with three Pakistani soldiers in the van. Among the dragged
people, the woman could recognised Pabna’s eminent businessmen Syed
Talukder, Professor Harun of Edward College, dentist Amulendu Dakshi and
Awami League Leader Advocate Aminuddin. The soldiers came down from the
lorry and burnt some national flags hoisting on the building tops. The
woman preferring anonymity said the soldiers killed all the people they
dragged to various points within March 29. She farther said that, on 27
March she went to visit Amalendu Dakshi’s residence. Dakshi’s wife
informed her, it was Maolana Sobhan who came to pick her husband.
Senior Advocate of Pabna Judge Court and former Public Prosecutor
Awami League leader Golam Hasnaen said, “Sobhan took the Pakistan Army
to the residence of Awami League leader Aminuddin.” Sobhan organised all
the Al Badar, Razakar and Peace Committee members. Daily Ittefaq’s
Pabna correspondent Anwarul Haq and Advocate Shafiqul Haq Shibly said
that Sobhan inspired the Pakistan army to kill Pabna Zilla School
teacher Kochimuddin. He also directed killing of freedom fighter and
musician Shadhon, informed Shadhon’s mother Sufia Begum.
Retired principal Md. Abdul Ghani of Kalachand Para, Pabna, said
Sobhan along with the Pakistani soldiers raided hindu-dominated
Kuchiapara and Shankharipara on April 17. Eight people including Sudhir
Chandra Chowdhury, Ashok Kumar Shaha, Gopal Chandra Chowdhury were
killed during the operation. The army torched as many as 25 homesteads,
looted valuables and assaulted the Hindu women.
He said a strong group of collaborators led by Sobhan, Ishaq, Tegar
and many others killed over 1000 people and torches homes in Faridpur
thana in Pabna district in the month of May. The second largest mass
killing in Pabna took place in Sujanagar. It was one of the dawn of the
first week of May, the Pakistanis’ killed some 400 people at Nazirganj
in Satbaria, according to freedom fighter Zahirul Islam Bishu. He said
his Mujib Bahini had arrested one of the gang leader Moulavi Modhu in
late May and later killed him. Modhu during the interrogation admitted
that before they go for attack they had a meeting ahead of the attack at
Sobhan’s residence. He said before any attack the collaborators used to
had meeting at Sobhan’s residence.
Maulana AKM Yousuf
MAULANA A K M YOUSUF, village-Rajoir, Thana-Saran Khola,
District-Bagerhat. Presently he is the Naeb-e- Ameer of the
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. He was one of the leading anti-liberation
organizers during the 1971 war. As part of his role in the
anti-liberation activities he became a member of Malek cabinet during
the war. He first formed ‘Razakar Bahini’ comprising 96 members of
Jamaat-e-Islami in Khulna district. He became the leader of the Jamaat
well before the freedom War started. He started his anti-Bangladesh role
and cooperating the Pakistani forces as soon as the war began on March
25. His responsibilities were to issue statement, organize the
anti-liberation forces and lead attacks, killing, looting and arson by
his groups. He also helped the members of the Pakistani forces to do the
same.
His statements published in the newspapers where he opposed the
liberation war and urged the collaborators to resist the pro-liberation
forces. On October 10, 1971, this anti-liberation leader praised
activities of the Razakars in a public rally and said, “we will have to
make the people understand that the so-called Bangladesh concept is
created by Indian authorities is valueless. Naxalaits, separatists and
criminals are trying to create anarchy in this part of the country. They
should be ousted by root.” (Genocide ’71, Muktijuddha Chetana Bikash
Kendra, Dhaka, February 1987).
On October 26, at a gathering in Sylhet, he said, “a section of
ignorant youths inspired by Indian propaganda has been unleashing
separatist activities on our land. You spread over every nook and corner
of the country to resist this movement and uproot the concept of
so-called Bengali nationalism”. He warned the allied forces saying, “Had
there been any war imposed on them, then heroes of Razakar and soldiers
would face with all courage.” On November 12, 1971, he praised the
Razakar activities while visiting Razakar camps in Shatkhira. He
commented, “the Razakars have been doing their best to resist the spies
and intruders of India”. He also assured the Razakars that he would
provide them with government jobs.
On November 28, while he was discussing with newsmen in Karachi,
Yousuf said that the Razakar have been working hand in hand with the
soldiers. He demanded supply of modern arms to the hands of razakars to
eliminate freedom fighters. “now the number of Razakar and Al-shams
stood to some 1 lakh. Apart from them, there were Mujahid bahini also.
They all are in guarding the borders along with the soldiers. The
razakars have been operating successfully resulting in reduce of
criminal activities”. (Ibid)
Guljan Bibi, a mother of martyr Shahid Seikh, informed that one
Razakar Khalek Member asked her son to join in the Razakar Bahini during
the monsoon of freedom War. As Shahid rejected his proposal, the member
called him out a month after. On the same day she learnt that her son
was handed to the Pakistani forces. Later she rushed to the founder of
the Razakar force, Maolana A K M Yousuf and requested him to free his
son. At that time Khalek Member was also with Yousuf who turned down her
request. Guljan Bibi did not get her son back, later she came to learn
that Pakistanis killed her son. Guljan demanded trial of her son’s
killing.
Yousuf along with his associates Khalekue and Adam Ali had killed
number of males and females during the war. They raped many women. These
information were disclosed by the citizens of Khulna, but still after
24 years of independence they are tight lipped for the sake of their own
security. One of them told the commission that Yousuf forced many
people from his own area Morelganj to join in the Razakar force. He
forced them to work against the liberation war. Yousuf’s headquarters
was the then ‘Ghost House’ which is now being used as district Anasr
camp. This camp was the prime torture centre. Apart from this they used
to torture the freedom-loving people at Khulna Shipyard, Bhashani
Biddalaya and many other camps. They also killed people at such places
wherever they felt comfortable. They handed over the innocent Bengalis
to Pakistani Army stationed at the prime camp Circuit House, and other
makeshift camps at Helipad, Naval base, hotel Shahin, Asiana Hotel etc.
The Razakar and other fundamentalist forces maintained regular
connection with the camps. They used to kill the people at Gallamari,
forest Ghat, Station road and some other places.
Mohammad Ayen ud Din
ADVOCATE MOHAMMAD AYEN UD DIN, son of Late Md. Moinuddin, Village and
Post Office : Shaympur, thana : Motihar, District : Rajshahi. He serves
the Muslim League as Secretary General and work as an advocate in the
Dhaka High Court. The Muslim League leader resorted to do whatever
needed to oppose the creation of Bangladesh. He was the chairman of the
then Peace Committee (PC) Rajshahi region and he contested by-election
to the then provincial assembly from Rajshahi-13 constituency. Under his
direct supervision the Peace Committee, Razakar Force and Al Badar
Force were constituted in Rajshahi at that time. He and his associates
led all the killings outside the battlefields in the northern Rajshahi
area.
“They have been able to face the enemy with unlimited tolerance.
Normalcy restored all over Rajshahi. Peace Committee was formed at every
sub-division, thana and union levels,” he told the Daily Azad in an
interview on May 31, 1971, after the formation of the PC. On August 4,
71 the Daily Sangram reported – “The closing session of the first batch
training of Razakar Bahini held at Jinnah Islamic Institution. The
trainees took oath on the Koran. In his speech, Ayenuddin advised the
Razakar Bahini to do their duties sincerely for an integrated Pakistan.
Local personalities and military officers attended the function.”
His kin and kith and locals alleged that Ayenuddin indulged him in
killing, torching, looting, repressing the women, forced joining to the
Razakar forces and appointing of some persons against their willingness
for bridge vigilance. He was also charged with looting assets and
property of innocent people who were handed over to Pakistani military
by him.
Freedom fighter Advocate Abdullah-hil-Baki and Professor Zinnatunnesa
told the Inquiry commission that Ayenuddin started announcing by
microphone in the city that if anyone catches Baki, live or dead then he
will be awarded Taka 10,000. Ayenuddin, in a letter (D-44 CPC Date
13-09-71) to the then army captain, Mohammad Ilius Khan provided a list
of 10 people from the city with a request for immediate arrest. Baki was
one among the ten.
Baki said one Abdur Rahman (son of Solaiman, village- Ramchandarpur,
thana-Paba), listed in the letter, was arrested from Parila village in
September. During a army raid in that area Pakistani forces killed some
30 people at the village and torched some 150 homesteads.
Zinnatunnesa said Ayenuddin killed one Harunur Rashid of Chandua
village in Tanore thana because of rivalry over property in April. Then
he took away Harun’s nine-year old girl and 13-year old daughter-in-law
and then handed over to the Pakistani soldiers, according to an
eyewitness of Harun killing.
Awami League district unit vice president and central member of
Bangladesh Krishak League Abdus Sobhan told the investigation team that
Ayenuddin helped arrest of nine people, including Rahimuddin Sarker, his
son Pintu. These nine was later killed at a killing field behind the
Joha hall of Rajshahi University.
In late November, he said, Ayenuddin in association with the army
picked up Aminul Haq Chowdhury, a hotel owner, Mokbul Chowdhury,
Advocate Taslim Uddin, Contractor Altaf Hossain, Nowrozuddula Khan,
Advocate Abul Hossain and many others. On December 18, after two day of
the victory, the bodies of most of them were recovered from a sandy
shoal in the Padma. There were no injury mark on the bodies and it was
assumed that all of them were buried alive in the sand.
Sobhan said that Ayenuddin had grown up at their home and studied
from there. “But he killed my father in 1955 when he was hardly a
student of intermediate. He was implicated in the murder case, but he
was spared because two of the juries, from the then Muslim League,
helped him to escape.
Preferring anonymity, one local said that the Pakistan army raided a
village and arrested several hundred people from there. Ayenuddin came
to the scene and separated five of them and asked the army personnel to
kill them. Two of them were killed in the hand of Pakistanis, the rest
three were released. These five had been campaigning against him during
the provincial election held under Pakistani army junta
ABM Khalek Majumder
ABM KHALEK MAJUMDER, son of Abdul Majid Majumder, Village: Dohatta,
thana : Haziganj, District: Comilla. He was office secretary of the
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Dhaka city unit, during the 1971 liberation
war. Now he is not so active in politics. He helped the Pakistani forces
as per his party belief during the war and he also killed many a people
by his own hands. He had served as a commander of the Al Badar Bahini
of the Jamaat during the war. He is charged with the intellectuals’
murders.
On December 14 evening, he along with his associates forcibly picked up
the then joint-editor of daily ‘Sangbad’ and noted litterateur
Shahidullah Kaiser from 29 Kayet Tuli. Kaiser did not returned, even his
body was yet to be recovered. Shahidullah’s wife Saifunnahar alias
Panna Kaiser, Nasir Ahmed, husband of Shahidullah’s youngest sister,
younger brother Zakaria Habib and his wife Neela Jakaria witnessed the
incident.
According to their witnesses account, due to the war a number of
Kaiser’s relatives took shelter at his home. On the December 14 evening,
Zakaria along with some others had been trying to listen to the
‘Sawdhin Bangla Betar Kendro’ (A radio station operated by the freedom
fighters) programme. The entire area darkened due to blackout. At that
time someone knocked loudly the outside door. Zakaria rushed to first
floor. Shahidullah Kaiser was taking tea at the drawing room at that
time, Neela was accompanying him. Informing that someone came at the
door, Zakaria came down. Gripped by fear, Kaiser’s sisters and other
switched on all the lights on the ground and first floor. Kaiser was
trying to make a phone call, but the intruders entered breaking the door
inside. They first knocked Obaidullah (younger brother of Shahidullah)
down by the rifle butt. The masked-men went up to Shahidullah’s bedroom.
Identifying himself, Shahidullah wanted to know the reason for their
coming.
Getting Shahidullah’s identity, one of the masked-men exclaimed
saying “Mil gaya” (we got him) in Urdu and hold him by his hair. The
others caught him by shirt, by hand and dragged him out. At that time
wife Panna Kaiser, sister Shahana Begum and brother-in-law Nasir tried
to rescue him from the cluster of the abductors. At one stage, Shahana
tore one of the mask-men and everybody known him. Later, during
identification of Khalek Majumder in the court they said this man had
gone to abduct Shahidullah Kaiser on the evening of December 14.
As the abductor was identified on the spot, he kicked Shahana and
forcibly dragged out Shahidullah and Jakaria Habib. Shahidullah tried
his best to resist the abductors, but failed. Finally, the abductors
released Zakaria on the road but took away Sahaidullah by a waiting
jeep. Khalek Majumder was also the inhabitant of the area. He used to
live at 47, Agamosi Lane.
Imam of the Kaet Tuli Mosque Ashrafullah who now works for the Banani
graveyard said, on December 14, 1971 afternoon Khalek Majumder wanted
to know when Shahidullah Kaiser was available at his home. In response,
Ashrafullah told him that he did not know. He even did not know that
Majumder was looking for Kaiser to kill him. On that night, the Imam had
been watching that Kaiser was trying hard to resist the abductors and
was screaming ‘help, save me’. And a number of people were picking up in
a jeep. On December 17, Ashrafullah informed it to Nasir Ahmed and
Zakaria Habib.
On December 14 night, Nasir Ahmed informed about the abduction to
Kotowali police station, but no service could be provided due to a lack
of police administration at that time. After the country was freed from
the occupation forces on December 16, Nasir Ahmed was looking for Khalek
Majumder and filed a case with Kotowali thana.
Khalek Majumder fled from his home fearing reprisal for his
activities. Nasir Ahmed, Zakaria Habib and others went to his home. But
he was not there. They found a revolver loaded with bullets, plenty of
important documents with names of military officers and members of the
Al Badar forces. These evidences were handed to the investigation
commission formed to find out the culprits of intellectuals’ killing. In
fact: Nasir Ahmed along with a number of freedom fighters from Sector-2
had been looking for Khalek Majumder to get Shahidullah Kaiser back.
Finally, Majumder was arrested from one of his relative’s home in
Malibagh. The case proved that he abducted Shahidullah Kaiser to kill
him and the court in its verdict on July 17 (1972) awarded Khalek
Majumder seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of taka 10,000.
As Khalek was convicted based on specific charges, he was out of the
purview of the general amnesty announced by the then Prime Minister
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
But with the changed political scenario, Khalek Majumder got
acquitted from the case on appeal to the High Court on April 29, 1976
during the Ziaur Rahman’s regime.
In his book “shikol Pora Dingulo’ Khalek himself admitted that he was
the secretary of Jamaat office of Siddique Bazar. His party was against
the independent war in 1971. They had been assisting the Pakistani
forces by mobilising Razakar and Albadar forces and directly involved
themselves in genocide, rape, arson, torching etc. He admitted that due
to his loyalty to the party he had to implement those things. He also
admitted that he was well know with the other war criminal Matiur Rahman
Nizami and operation in charge of intellectuals’ killing Chowdhury
Moinuddin. It was also learnt from his book that he maintained very good
relations with the Pakistan army. In his book that came out 14 years
after the independence, he expressed his hatred to the Bangladesh’s
freedom. When seventy million people were expressing their joys with the
victory on December 16, 1971, the writer of the book was feeling
frustrated saying “Alas! Everybody was surprised ….on that very morning
one Jamaat leader sent me to the Jamaat office in a hurry… my mind was
disappeared with disappointment listening to the news. …” (Shikol Pora
Dinguli, page 10). He continued writing “I was not certain about my
future. But I did not feel well. The day was ended with a long breath of
frustration. The night fell down with all its darkness. The fortunate
star bade good-bye from our sky etc.”
Charmonai Piir (Divine): Maulana SM Fazlul Karim
Maulana Fazlul Karim runs a residential madrasa (A Jesuite style
institute) in Charmonai, southern part of Bangladesh. During the war
hundreds of Bengali women went for shelter to his madrasa to escape the
mass rape and murder by the Pakistani troops. They thought as a holy man
the maulana would save them from the bestiality unleashed by the
occupation forces.
But the so-called maulana and his colleagues declared those hapless
girls as commodities of war (and hence as per Islamic law consumable by
the Muslim soldiers) and as such supplied them to the Pakistani
soldiers. The dead bodies of those raped girls were flung into the
nearby river or buried in the mass grave behind the madrasa. The maulana
is also alleged to have slain many Hindus and freedom fighters in his
own hand (like the head Imam of Mymensingh did as described by Taslima
Nasrin in Nirbachita Columns) and threw the dead bodies to the river
after slitting their bellies so that they don’t float.
Moinuddin Chowdhury
The chief executioner of the Al-Badr and Al-Sams forces. The key
person behind the brutal murder of hundreds of progressive Bengali
intellectuals in 1971. Moinuddin and his cohorts picked the enlisted
intellectuals from their residences between 12-14 December,1971 and
killed them at Rayer bazaar and Mirpur. It is said that those who were
still alive after being shot by Moinuddin’s henchmen, Moinuddin himself
used to slit their throats in his own hand like slaughtering bulls for
Korbani.
Moinuddin was the mastermind among his criminal peers as nothing
much has been found against him. One of his razakar mate said he saw
Moinuddin taking away all the money and important documents from the
Al-Badr head office in Dhaka after the victory of Bangladesh. Presently
Moinuddin is a British citizen and the special editor of the Jamat
publication- the weekly Dawat. He is expatriate Bangladeshi elite and
travels to Bangladesh frequently.
Ashrafuzzaman Khan
One of the chief al-Badr (Jamai Death squad in 1971) executioners.
It has been clearly proved that he himself shot to death 7 teachers of
Dhaka university in the killing zones at Mirpur. A certain Mofizzuddin,
who drove the vehicle that carried those hapless victims to Mirpur, has
clearly identified Ashrafuzzaman as the “chief killer” of the
intellectuals.
After Liberation, Ashrafuzzaman’s personal diary was recovered from
his residence, 350 Nakhal Para. Two pages of his diary registered names
and residential addresses of 19 teachers as well as the name of the
medical officer of Dhaka University. Of those 20 persons, 8 were missing
on December 14: Munier Chowdhury (Bengali), Dr. Abul Khair (History),
Ghiasuddin Ahmed (History), Rashidul Hasan (English), Dr. Faizul Mohi
(IE R) and Dr. Murtaza (Medical Officer).
Mofizuddin confessed that Ashrafuzzaman himself shot all of them. As
per Mofizuddin’s description, the decomposed bodies of those unfortunate
teachers were recovered from the swamps of Rayer Bazar and the mass
grave at Shiyal Bari at Mirpur. There were also other names in the diary
including Dr. Wakil Ahmed (Bengali), Dr. Nilima Ibrahim (Bengali), Dr.
Latif (IE R), Dr. Maniruzzaman (Geography), K M Saaduddin (Sociology),
AMM Shahidullah (Math), Dr. Sirajul Islam (Islamic History), Dr. Akhtar
Ahmed (Education), Zahirul Huq (Psychology), Ahsanul Huq (English),
Serajul Islam Chowdbury (English), and Kabir Chowdhury (English).
Another page of his diary recorded the names of 16 collaborating
teachers of Dhaka university. Apart from that there were also names of
Chowdbury Moinuddin, the chief of operation for elimination of the
intelligentsia, and Shawkat Imran, a member of the central Al-Badr
command, and the head of Dhaka Al-Badr forces.
The diary also contained names and addresses of several other
prominent Bengalis. All of them lost their lives at the hands of
Al-Badr forces. On a small piece of paper the name of the member finance
of the Pakistan Jute Board, Abdul Khalek, was written down. On December
9, 1971, the Al-Badr forces kidnapped Mr. Khalek from his office. They
demanded Taka 10,000 as ransom. They saw Mrs. Khalek for ransom money.
But at that time she was unable to pay the kidnappers more than 450
taka. She promised that she would give them the rest of the money later,
and begged them her husband’s life. But Mr. Khalek never came back.
Ashrafuzzaman has also been implicated in the murder of some
journalists. It was Ashrafuzzaman who kidnapped the shift-in- charge of
the Purbadesh, and the literary editor, Mr. Golam Mustafa.
Ashrafuzzaman Khan, was a member of the Central Committee of the
Islami Chhatra Sangha. After liberation he went to Pakistan and worked
for Radio Pakistan. Recently Ashrafuzzaman has moved to New York and
presently heads the Queens branch of Islamic Circle of North America
(ICNA)
Dr Syed Sazzad Hossain
Prof Syed Sazzad Hossain was the vice chancellor (VC) of Rajshahi
University earlier in 1971 and was appointed the VC of Dhaka University
in May 1971. His role during the war was to hail the Pak occupation army
for the great job they were doing for the country such as cleansing the
country of the infidel (Hindus). His other role was to inform the army
intelligence about the whereabouts of his secular minded colleagues. Dr
Sazzad was such a smug that he, as the chairman, forced the students of
English dept of Dhaka university to wear formal dress (full sleeves
shirts and jackets in hot summer days) and promoted bureaucratic
attitude in the name of scholarship which was in reality nothing but an
intellectual pretension based on mimicked linguistic difference.
The Dainik Bangla reported on 10 January 1972: Dr Sazzad made a trip
to overseas to propagate against the indepence of Bangladesh within a
few days following Yahya’s attack on the people of Bangladesh. One of
his letters hailing the Pak army act ivies in Bangladesh was published
in London times. The letter goes like this: It was not right what is
being told to have happened in Bangladesh. Sazzad took the side of the
Pakis by saying that Paki troops were not responsible for the massacre
in the Dhaka university campus on 25 March 1971. Sazzad said the
students and teachers were killed because they were fighting with each
other. Sazzad was such a son of a bitch that he did not mind licking the
damn asses of the Pakis while his colleagues and even classmates were
killed in the massacre.
A letter with his signature published in the Dainik Bangla on 10
January 1972 is still being considered as one of the evidences of
Sazzad’s collaboration with the Pakis. Sazzad wrote: according to the
office order of the Pakistani embassy in London, I should be paid at the
following rate: a. 50% DA from June 24 to July 1 £25.25 per day b. £150
cash. My hotel fare should be paid latter.
Dr Sazzad was the leading signatory of a statement by 55 academics,
writers and journalists denouncing the liberation war. The joint
statement was published on 17 May 1971 and it condemned the liberation
war which they argued is an Indian mission to break up the Muslim state,
Pakistan. Sazzad also criticized the activists of Swami league branding
them “extremists” who have turned the movement for autonomy into a war
of independence: we are frustrated with the demand…….we had been
expressing our grievances within the one state structure…….we never
wanted such happening, as a result we become very sorry and frustrated
with the developments.
Ironic, but true, Dr Sazzad was the chair of the PEN (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) chapter in Bangladesh.
The list of top collaborators of 1971 and their present whereabouts
A. Members of the Central Peace Committee
1. Khwaja Khairuddin, Leader of the Pakistan Muslim League.
2. AGM Shafiqul Islam Advocate, Lahore High Court. Runs business in Bangladesh.
3. Golam Azam Former Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami. Retired last year
conferring party leadership to his worthy associate Nizami, head of
death squad in 1971.
4. Moulana Syed Mohammad Leading member of the central Majlis of the Bangladesh Ittehadul Ummah.
5. Mahmud Ali state minister for social welfare, government of Pakistan.
6. MAK Rafiqul Islam No information.
7. Abdul Jabbar Khaddar Deceased.
8. Yusuf Ali Chowdhury (Mohan Miah) Had a natural death during the liberation war.
9. Abul Kashem Had a natural death after liberation.
10. Gulam Sarwar: Leader of the Jamaati organization in London, the
Dawatul Islam; Director of the London based Islamic institute.
11. Syed Azizul Huq:(Nanna Miah)Leader of the Jatiyo Party, and member of Parliament.
12. ASM Solaiman: Chairman, Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Party.
13. Peer Mohsenuddin:(Dudu Miah)Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Democratic League
14. Sharq Rahman: Chairman, Islamic Democratic League
15. Major (Rtd) Afsaruddin:Convener, Bangladesh Ganatantra
Bastabayan Parishad; Chairman, National Democratic Party; former presidential candidate.
16. Syed Mohsin Ali:Industrialist; former Chairman Stock
Exchange; former Director, IFIC bank.
17. Fazlul Huq Chowdhury: Had a natural death after liberation
18. Mohd. Sirajuddin: Industrialist; Chairman of the Dhaka City
Muslim League.
19. AT Sadi: Retired advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court
20. Ataul Huq Khan: Vice Chairman, Bangladesh Muslim
League.
21. Maqbulur Rahman: Businessman.
22. Mohammad Aqil: Acting Chairman, Bangladesh Nezam e Islam.
23. Principal Ruhul Quddus: Member of the central working
committee, Jamaat e Islam.
24. Nuruzzaman: Industrialist; Director Islamic Development
bank.
25. Moulana Miah Mafizul Huq: Member, central Majlis, Bangladesh Ittehadul Ummah.
26. Abu Salek: Senior Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme
Court.
27. Abdun Naim Had a natural death after liberation
28. Moulana Siddique Ahmed:Member, central Majlis, Bangladesh Ittehadul Ummah.
29. Abdul Matin:Secretary general, Bangladesh Muslim League.
30. Barrister Akhtaruddin Ahmed Resident in Saudi Arabia
Adviser Saudi International Law
31. Toaha Bin Habib Industrialist; member, Central Majlis e Shura, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan.
32. Irtezaur Rahman Akhunzada: Deceased
33. Raja Tridev Roy A Pakistani citizen. Runs business at Karachi.
34. Faiz Bakhsh Chairman, Bangladesh Muslim League
B. Leaders of the Central Peace and Welfare Council
1. Moulana Farid Ahmed Disappeared immediately after liberation.
2. Nuruzzaman Former director Imam Training Course, Islamic
Foundation.
3. Moulana Abdul Mahnan Former Minister for Religious Affairs.
4. Julmat Ali Khan Vice Chairman, BNP
5. AKM Mujibul Huq Industrialist.
6. Firoz Ahmed No information.
C. Members of the Malek Cabinet
1. Abul Kashem Deceased
2. Nawazish Ahmed Chairman, Bangladesh Muslim League.
D. The Central Committee of the Islami Chhatra Sangha (The Al-Badr High Command)
1. Matiur Rahman Nizami, (All-Pakistan Chief)
Assistant General Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islami.
2. Ali Ahsan Mohd Mujahid(East Pakistan Chief); Ameer of Dhaka City, Jamat-e-Islami; Manager of the Weekly Sonar Bangla.
3. Mir Kasem Ali: (He was at first head of the Chittagong district, then
was ranked third in the line of command of Al-Badr); Deputy Amecr of
Dhaka City Jamaat-e-Islami; Manager, Rabet-e-Alam (Bangladesh); Member
(Administration) Ibn-e-Sina Trust.
4. Mohd Yunus: Member of the Central Jamaat-e-Islami;
Director-General, Majlis-e-Shura, Bangladesh Islami Bank; Director,
Islami Social Welfare Association; Chairman, Muslim Business Society.
5. Mohd Kamruzzaman: Chief organizer of AI-Badr; Press Secretary, Jamaat-elslami; Editor,Sonar Bangla.
6. Ashraf Hussain: (Founder of the AI-Badr and head of the Mymensingh District Al-Badr, runs business in Dhaka.
7. Mohd Shamsul Huq, Member of the Central Majlis-e-Shura, (head of the Dhaka City AI-Badr), Jamaat-e-Islami.
8. Mustafa Showkat Imran, Disappeared immediately after liberation. One of the leaders of Dhaka City AI-Badr
9. Ashrafuzzaman Khan: Member of the Dhaka City AI-Badr High Command,
and “Chief Executor” of the intellectuals; serving in Saudi Arabia.
10. A. S. M. Ruhul Quddus: One of the leaders of the Dhaka City AI-Badr; Member of the Majlis-e-Shura, Jamaat-e-Islami
11. Sardar Abdus Salam: Head of the Dhaka District AI-Badr;
Secretary, Training, Jamaat-e-Islami.
12. Khurram Jha Murad: Resident in London; Jamaat leader; active in organizing Jamaatis internationally.
13. Abdul Bari: Chief of the Jamalpur AI-Badr; Serving in Dhaka.
14. Abdul Hye Farooki: Chief of the Rajshahi District AI-Badr; runs business in Dubai.
15. Abdul Zahir Mohd Abu Neser: Chief of the Chittagong District
AI-Badr; Personal Assistant at the Saudi Embassy in Dhaka and Librarian.
16. Matiur Rahman Khan: Chief of the Khulna District AI-Badr;
Serving in Jeddah.
17. Chowdhury Moinuddin: Operation in-charge in killing of the
intellectuals; Special Editor of the London based weekly, Dawat; leader
of the London-based Jamaat organisation, Dawatul Islam.
18. Nur Mohd Malik: One of the leaders of the Dhaka City AI-Badr; whereabouts unknown.
19. A. K. Mohd Ali: One of the leaders of the Dhaka City AI-Badr;
whereabouts unknown.
20. Mazharul Islam; Head of the Rajshahi District Al-Badr; Whereabouts unknown.
E. Collaborating Academics:
a. The Education Reform Committee Formed by Tikka Khan
1. Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain (Vice-Chancellor Rajshahi University)
Former Professor, King Abdul Aziz University, Saudi Arabia; At present residing in Bangladesh.
2. Dr. Hasan Zaman, Dept of Political Science, DU
Died in Saudi Arabia.
3. Dr. Mohar Ali, Dept of History, DU, Serving in Saudi Arabia.
4. A. K. M. Abdur Rahman, Professor, Dept of Mathematics, DU.
5. Abdul Bari, Vice-Chancellor, RU; Chairman, University Grants Commission; Member, Governing Body of the Islamic Foundation.
6. Dr. Safiuddin Joardar: Deceased.
7. Dr. Makbul Hussain: Living a retired life.
b. Other Teachers of Dhaka University who were given compulsory leave after being charged with collaboration.
1. Begum Akhtar Imam, Provost, Rokeya Hall. Bengali Dept. Living a retired life in Dhaka.
2. Dr. Qazi Din Mohd: Dept of Arabic
1. Dr. Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman: Serving at Dhaka University.
2. Dr. Fatima Sadeque, Dept of Political Science
1. Dr. Golam Wahid Chowdhury: Owns a Garment Industry in Dhaka.
2. Dr. Rashiduzzaman: Employed in the U. S. A. (**)
3. Dr. AKM Shahidullah, Serving at Dhaka University.
4. AKM Jamaluddin Mustafa. Dept of Sociology, runs business in Dhaka.
5. Md. Afsaruddin, Dept of Psychology (DU)
6. Dr. Mir Fakhruzzaman, Dept of Physics Deceased.
7. Dr. Md. Shamsul Islam, Dept of Pharmacy (DU)
8. Dr. Abdul Jabbar, Dept of Statistics (DU)
9. Dr. Mahbubuddin Ahmed, doing business in London
2. Md. Obaidullah, Playwright; writes for Bangladesh Radio TV.
c Institute of Educational Research
1. Md. Habibullah, resident in Pakistan.
2. Abdul Kadir Miah, Employed at Dhaka University.
3. Dr. Shafia Khatun: Former minister and member Public service commission; employed at Dhaka University
d. Physical Education Center
1. Lt Col (Retd) Matiur Rahman, Dept of Journalism
2. Atiquzzaman Khan, Dept of Urdu and Persian, deceased.
3. Dr. Aftab Ahmed Siddqui, resident in Pakistan.
4. Dr. Fazlul Kader, Dept of Law, no information.
5. Nurul Momen, Dept of Islamic History, living in Dhaka.
6. Dr. SM Imamuddin, Dhaka University Caretaker, resident in Pakistan
7. SD Daliluddin, Dept of Botany (DU), deceased.
8. Mohd Mahbubul Alam Jalaluddin, Serving in Pakistan.
Several of those collaborating teachers were involved in the killing of
the intellectuals. Many of their names were found in the diary of
Ashrafuzzaman Khan, the Chief Executioner of the Al-Badr forces.
e. Institute of Educational Research
1.Nasir Ahmed, Upper Division Assistant, Chief Engineer Office
2.Painter Zahir Khan, Engineering Office
3.Peon Shahjahan, Salimullah Hall
4.Peon Mohammad Mustafa.
f. Teachers of Rajshahi University who were given compulsory leave after being charged with collaboration.
1. Dr. Abdul Bari, Vice-Chancellor, Chairman, University Grants Commission.
2. Dr. Golam Saqlain, Reader Professor, Dept of Bengali, Rajshahi University.
3. Azizul Huq, Associate Professor, Dept of Bengali, Rajshahi University.
4. Shaikh Ataur Rahman, Associate Professor, Dept of Bengali, Rajshahi University.
5. Abdur Rahim Joardar, University Registrar, retired
g. Teachers of Rajshahi University who were arrested on charges of collaboration.
1. Mukbul Hussain, Professor, Dept of Commerce (RU)
2. Ahmed Muhammad Patel, Chairman, Dept of Geography. Resident in Pakistan.
3. Solaiman Mondol, Chairman & Professor, Dept of Economics (RU).
4. Unman Bari Baghi, Associate Professor, Dept of Psychology.
Resident in Pakistan
5. Zillur Rahman, Reader, Dept of Law, Law Faculty, RU.
6. Kalim A Sasrami, Associate Professor, Dept of Languages.
(RU).
h. Those who were charged with collaboration and fled away after independence.
1. Ahmed Ullah Khan, Associate, Professor English Dept (RU).
2. Ebne Ahmed One of the deputy registrars, former registrar, Islami University, Kushtia.
(Dainik Bangla, October 3, 1973).
Maulana Dawood
“….Also intact: the alliance between Raza and Maulana Dawood, who had
accompanied the Hyders to Karachi and who, once he was installed in the
official residence of the new minister, at once distinguished himself
by launching a vociferous public campaign against the consumption of
prawns and blue-bellied crabs, which being scavengers, were as unclean
as any pig, and which, although understandably unavailable in far-off
Q., were both plentiful and popular in the capital by the sea. The
Maulana was deeply affronted to find these armored monsters of the deep
freely available in the fish markets, and succeeded in enlisting the
support of urban divines who did not know how to object. The city’s
fishermen found that the sales of shellfish began to drop alarmingly,
and were therefore obliged to rely more than ever on the income they
gained from the smuggling of contraband goods. Illicit booze and
cigarettes replaced blue crabs in the holds of many dhows. No booze or
cigarettes found their into the Hyder residence, however. Dawood made
unheralded raids on the servant’s quarters to check that God was in
charge.
Shame: Salman Rushdie
Reference:
Liberation Museum
Killers and Collaborators of 1971: An Account of Their Whereabouts,
compiled and published by the Center for the Development of the Spirit
of the Liberation War
Commission on War Criminals of Bangladesh
Saiduzzaman Raushan: Speeches and Statements of Killers & Collaborators of 1971
