Jamaat Expresses Joy Over ATM Azhar’s Acquittal in War Crimes Case
Dr Shafiqur Rahman, the chief (Ameer) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, has claimed that 11 senior leaders of his party were unfairly punished and killed through court rulings in false war crimes cases. He made these comments during a press conference on Tuesday, 27 May 2025, at the Muktijoddha Hall of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB), located in Kakrail, Dhaka.
The press conference began at 11:30 am and was organised by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Dr Rahman expressed great happiness after the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court acquitted ATM Azharul Islam, a Jamaat leader who had earlier received the death sentence in a case related to the 1971 Liberation War.
“The verdict of ATM Azhar has served justice. All praise and thanks to Almighty Allah – Alhamdulillah,” Dr Rahman said.
“Kangaroo Courts Took Away Our Leaders”
Dr Rahman criticised the previous court verdicts, saying they were based on false witnesses and fake court processes. He said these were not real trials, but mock courts used to eliminate political opponents.
“The kangaroo court has taken our leaders from us. We will never get them back,” he stated.
According to him, those leaders could have contributed greatly to the country if they were still alive. He said they were honest and capable people who would have brought positive changes to politics.
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Claims of Forgery and Unfair Trials
Dr Rahman accused the authorities of using fake documents, lies, and cheating during the trials. He referred to the writings of former Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, saying they showed how the courts were manipulated for political reasons, not for true justice.
He also mentioned specific incidents, including the execution of Abdul Quader Mollah. He claimed that during Mollah’s forced execution, his family members were beaten and detained.
Dr Rahman brought up the “Skype scandal” and the story of a witness named Sukharanjan Bali as examples of how unfair and questionable the trials were.
Legal Standards Ignored, Says Jamaat Chief
He strongly criticised the trial process, saying that both national and international legal rules were ignored. He blamed certain powerful people for directing the court decisions according to their own wishes.
“They have been removed from this world, but they will remain in our hearts. We will remember them through our actions,” he said emotionally.
International Opinions Cited
Dr Rahman claimed that even international observers criticised the trials. He said that a court in Britain called it a ‘genocide of justice’, and now the Bangladeshi court itself has called it a ‘miscarriage of justice’.
“We Want Justice, Not Revenge”
Speaking to journalists, he said:
“We did not seek revenge, you have seen that. We want justice.”
He also said that the goal of the false cases was to wipe out the top leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami.
“This verdict makes it clear that it was a deliberate act of leadership genocide. Responsible leaders are not born in every household. Their objective was to leave the party leaderless.”
“Truth Cannot Be Hidden Forever”
He added that the truth always comes out in the end:“This verdict proves that truth cannot be suppressed. It breaks through the clouds and shines with brilliance.”
Pledge to End Political Revenge
Dr Rahman ended his speech by saying that if Jamaat-e-Islami is given the chance to serve the people again, they will bring an end to the politics of revenge and discrimination.
“If given the opportunity to serve the people, we will end the politics of vengeance and discrimination.”
Source: TBS
