Jamaat disowning war crimes!
The Jamaat once again reasserted that there is no war criminals in Bangladesh. How strange! Let's set the facts straight: the 1972 constitution debarred politics based on religion. The restoration of the 1972 constitution will allow that to happen again. There is a common misunderstanding, which the Jamaatis and their well-wishers often exploit, that Bangabandhu had pardoned the war criminals. This is an utter falsehood used to confuse the people. Let us go back to the history for a moment. The Special Tribunal Order was promulgated on 24 January 1972 (PO NO-8 of 1972) to try those Pak Collaborators/Razakars/Al-Badrs and other stooges of the Pakistani army. Nearly 37,000 collaborators were arrested under that order. Around 26,000 were released in a general amnesty by the Bangabandhu government those against whom there were no grievous charges. At the time of Bangabandhu's killing on 15 August, 1975, the remaining 11,000 classified collaborators, Razakars and Al-Badrs were under trial and among them were Nizami and Abbas Ali Khan. They did not get any clemency or mercy shown by the Bangabandhu government, nor were they released from jail. On 4 November 1972, religion- based politics was abolished according to sections 12 and 38 of the constitution. Bangladesh Citizenship Act was introduced on 15 December 1972. On 18 April 1973, Golam Azam and his accomplices were striped off their citizenship through a gazette notification. The Bangladesh government issued an order, International Crime Act of 1973 for the Pakistani war criminals. Bangladesh Criminal Act/Collaborator Act was rescinded by a martial law proclamation on 31 December 1975. Furthermore, on 18 January 1976, the war criminals were asked by the ministry concerned to apply for citizenship. Accordingly, Golam Azam and other collaborators and Al-badrs/Razakars, who lost their citizenship, were allowed to return to Bangladesh and get back their rights to participate in political activities. Golam Azam got his citizenship back under the patronage of Ziaur Rahman. The bottom line is International Crime Act of 1973 is still active and effective. Article 47, Section 3 of the Act allows trial of war criminals of Pakistan if the UN and other humanitarian organisations agree. But the Bangladesh government must start the process first. Restoration of the 1972 constitution will allow total ban on religion-based political parties. However, banning the Jamaat from doing politics should not be a problem if the Election Commission in its election reform package and the Political Party Act includes the clause of debarring participation of parties based on religion the same way proven corrupt politicians and loan defaulters will be debarred from participating in election. Let the opportunity not be missed! Let the common voice prevail.
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