The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Islami Oikkyo Jote (BIOJ) yesterday came up with a list of 15 "war criminals" of 1971 with Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami and secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid on top of it, and demanded their trial in a special court.

BIOJ chairman Alhaj Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury read out the names of the "war criminals" at a press conference at his office here in the morning.

The 13 others on the list are Jamaat leaders Mir Kashem Ali, Sarder Abdus Salam and Mohammad Qamruzzaman, Chowdhury Farid Uddin Ahmed and Muhammad Shamsul Huq, Director General of Islami Bank Mohammad Younus, Majilsh-e-Shura

member of Jamaat ASM Ruhul Quddus, businessmen Ashraf Hossain (in Dhaka), Abdul Hai Faruki (in Dubai) and Chowdhury Moinuddin (in London), Abdul Zaher Mohammad Abu Naser of Ibn Sina and Islami Bank, Food and Disaster Management secretary Ayub Miah and Barrister Abdur Razzak.

The BIOJ chairman urged the present caretaker government to form a high-powered probe commission led by a Supreme Court Justice and comprising more than one sector Commanders, prominent jurists, academics and political scientists.

"The probe commission will make its report public at a press conference within two months and then submit it to the government," Misbahur Rahman told journalists.

Asked about the authenticity of their allegations against the 15 individuals, he said they have already collected necessary documents and witnesses to prove their offences during the liberation war in 1971.

"We've all the details of those who had gone into hiding during Bangabandhu's rule and their rise as millionaires later. We have 651 witnesses who were affected by their activities. They'll appear in court, identify the accused and make their depositions," he said.

The BIOJ chairman urged the country's political parties, institutions, intellectuals and professionals to socially boycott the war criminals and stop sitting with them in roundtables, discussions, seminars and symposiums, and terminate them from government services.

He said: "A few Islamic organizations and even 2-3 left-leaning parties opposed the liberation war but today's Jamaat leaders were directly involved in war crimes. They committed all the heinous acts described as war crimes by the United Nations. So they violated the Geneva Convention."

Misbahur urged the government to immediately release the two detained former premieres-Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia-and lift the state of emergency for initiating political dialogue with them. "It's important for the government to release the two leaders, if necessary on bail, and start a political dialogue," he said.

BIOJ general secretary general Moulana Moniruzzaman Rabbani, vice-chairman Adv Nurul Islam, joint secretaries Principal Begum Shamsunnahar and Principal Moulana Masudur Rahman were, among others, present at the press conference.