DHAKA: Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami will be hanged for his involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The first International Crimes Tribunal chairman M Enayetur Rahim on Wednesday awarded death sentence to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Nizami in the second, fourth, sixth and 16th numbers of charges.
Four charges for which Nizami was awarded death penalty are:
2nd charge:
On May 10, 1971 Nizami had a meeting with the local members of peace committee and Rajakar at Ruposhi primary school at Bousgari village at Sathia in Pabna where he announced that Pakistan forces would come to the area to ensure peace. According to the plan, the Pakistani army attacked the village and killed 400 people. Rajakars also violated 30 to 40 women there.
4th Charge:
Habibur Rahman Sarder, an inhabitant of Karamja village in Pabna, was killed by a group of Razakars at the order of Nizami.
On May 8, Nizami’s Al-Badr forces cordoned the village and killed nine people. Later, they abused a woman apart from looting and torching several houses
6th Charge:
At the behest of Nizami’s instruction, Rajakars and Pak Army killed 52 people including women and children at Dhulaurha village of Pabna on Nov 27, 1971.
16th Charge:
Al Badr killed innumerous intellectuals of the country. As the head of Al Badr, Nizami was responsible for the killing of intellectuals.
Nizami was, however, proved guilty in eight charges out of total 16 in the verdict, pronounced by the tribunal chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim, in presence of the convict.
Four other charges for which Nizami got lifetime imprisonment:
1st Charge:
Mawlana Kasim Uddin, the then headmaster of Pabna Zilla School, was involved in pro-liberation campaign. On June 4, 1971 Pakistan forces picked up him. In the presence Nizami, the teacher was tortured near Nurpur Power House. Later on June 10, at least 10 people, including Mawlana Kasim, were killed on the bank of Ichamati River.
3rd Charge:
Mohammadpur Physical Training Institute was the camp of Pakistani occupation forces during the period from May to 16 December, 1971. Later, Rajakar and Al-Badr also set up their camps at the place. Nizami regularly visited the camp, hatched conspiracy to commit crimes against humanity.
7th Charge:
On December 3, 1971, as per information given by Nizami, the Pakistan troops cordoned Brishalikha village in Pabna and killed one Sohrab Ali in presence of his wife and children.
8th Charge:
On Aug 30, 1971, being instigated by Nizami, Pak forces killed several youths including Shafi Imam Rumi, Badi, Jalal who were detained at the old MP Hostel at Nakhalpara of Dhaka.
On the other hand, prosecution did not place deposition-evidence in support of fifth charge while 9-15 charges against him were not proved.
Earlier in the morning, the delivery of the verdict started with an introductory speech of M Enayetur Rahim.
Justice Anwarul Haque later placed ICT observation on the 16 charges brought against the war crimes accused.
Following observation, another judge of the panel, Justice Jahangir Hossain, read out first part of the summary of the 204-page verdict.
Nizami faced the 16 charges of wartime offences -- conspiracy, planning, incitement and active participation in murder, rape, loot, forced deportation, arson -- committed allegedly during Liberation War in 1971.
On June 29, 2010, Nizami was arrested after a magistrate court in Dhaka had issued an arrest warrant in connection with a criminal case over hurting religious sentiment of Muslims.
Later on July 22 in 2010, the tribunal shown him arrested in the war crimes case.
On May 28, 2012, the tribunal indicted the Jamaat Ameer for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
BDST: 1343 HRS, OCT 29, 2014
