Civil society leaders hail arrest of Ghulam Azam

Leaders of civil society expressed their satisfaction over the arrest of former ameer of Jama'at-e-Islami Ghulam Azam, saying that the arrest was imperative for holding the trial of war criminals as he was the principal organizer of anti-liberation forces during and after Bangladesh's liberation war, reports BSS.

His arrest has taken the ongoing trial of crimes against humanity a step ahead, they said, adding that it would also send a signal to their protectors at home and abroad that their evil designs would not be able to save the war criminals from trial.

"It is very much expected. He was the leader and chief of those responsible for committing crimes against humanity," said Prof Sirajul Islam Chowdhury while giving his reaction to the arrest of Ghulam Azam.

He said Ghulam Azam was not only active inside the country during the liberation war, he went to Pakistan to show his allegiance to the then Pakistani rulers.

"He was principal organizer and leader of those who have so far been arrested on charges of their involvement in crimes against humanity," Chowdhury added.

Executive director of Ain-o-Salish Kendra Sultana Kamal said Ghulam Azam was the leader of those involved in crimes such as killing, rape, arson and torture during the liberation war.

"It is a great relief for us. He should have been arrested much earlier," said Sultana Kamal, who is also a civil society leader.

She said Ghulam Azam had direct involvement in war crimes and there are recorded evidence against him. After 1975, Ghulam Azam and other war criminals were politically and socially rehabilitated and protected, she added.

"I feel relief...his arrest was imperative and overdue. We raised this demand about 20 years ago under the leadership of Jahanara Imam," said Shahriar Kabir, acting president of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.

"But his arrest is not enough...International Crimes Tribunal must be strengthened to complete the trial of crimes against humanity by 2013," he said. Shahriar Kabir said, BNP-Jama'at has been trying to foil the trial and they have been carrying out multidimensional campaigns at home and abroad.

"It is certainly a relief for us. Our generation as well as I had to wait over 40 years for it," was the reaction of Prof Muntasir Mamun.

"People were in doubt about the progress of war crimes but the arrest of Ghulam Azam would dispel such a doubt and increase their confidence in the trial," said the history professor of Dhaka University.

He said conspiracy is going on to foil the trial of war criminals and Ghulam Azam has been playing an active role. "His son has launched a campaign - 'save Ghulam Azam' - that was telecast on a Malaysian TV channel," he added.

Source: thefinancialexpress-bd.com

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