Law minister Anusul Haq said the allegations against Piash Karim's father that he was a collaborator during the war of independence was “an absolute lie”.
Claiming that his involvement in the killing of Dhirendranath Datta was a “mere propaganda,” the minister has trashed all the allegations against Piash's family members of possessing anti-independence values.
The minister made the observation while replying to the queries of the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.
He said: “MA Karim, the father of Piash Karim, did not carry out his charges as a peace committee chief. Rather he was the founder treasurer of Comilla district unit Awami League.”
“Although he was compelled to join the local peace committee as its chairmen, he did not lead or conduct any act of genocide. He helped many freedom fighters during the war.”
Mentioning that Piash, who was a class five student and was only 13 years old, had also worked for the independence of the country, Anisul further said: “Just two months before the victory of Bangladesh, the Pakistani Army picked Piash up for holding a secrete meeting in favour of the war. Later, MA Karim was forced to sign a bond and join the peace committee when he went to the circuit house to rescue his son.”
“But after coming from the circuit house, he never performed as a peace committee chief, rather continued with his responsibility to distribute the ID cards among the freedom fighters.”
“After the independence, MA Karim was arrested along with the other war collaborators. However, he was released unconditionally after only eight days,” added the minister.
Anisul further informed that MA Rahim, Piash's uncle, was an establishment secretary after the independence.
Anisul Haq said: “Piash's family is very close to me. His sister Toufiqa Karim is my business partner. What was propagated against Piash's father and him was a sheer lie and has no basis.”
Asked why he did not make any comments over the criticism against Piash immediately after his death, the minister said “The government was not responsible to make it clear because it was not a part of the protest that triggered immediately after the announcement of taking his body to the Shaheed Minar.”
“I am giving my personal opinion on his family members as I know them very well.”
“Piash should have clarified the rumours and criticism against him in his lifetime,” the minister added.
Piash Karim, a professor of BRAC University’s Economics and Social Sciences Department, died of cardiac arrest early Monday at the age of 56.
Hailing from Comilla, Piash Karim obtained his PhD in Sociology from Kansas State University, USA. He often took part in talk-shows on different TV channels and seminars as a resource person.
He came under fire by different quarters for his comments against Sahahbagh Gonojagoron Mancha and the trial procedure of the International War Crimes Tribunals.
Though there was a plan to bring his body to the Central Shaheed Minar to allow people to pay their their last tributes to him, however, his family members shelved it as the Dhaka University authorities denied permission to bring his body to the Shaheed Minar amid objection to the move by some student and cultural organisations.
As per the changed decision of his family members, the body of Piash Karim was finally taken to his Dhanmondi residence around 10am yesterday instead of Central Shaheed Minar from the mortuary. Later, the mortal remains were brought to the Baitul Aman Jam-e-Mosque premises where his family members, colleagues, students and well-wishers paid their tributes to him.
Piash Karim, a professor of BRAC University’s Economics and Social Sciences Department, died of cardiac arrest early Monday at the age of 56.
His body was kept at the mortuary of Square Hospital for his close relatives, including sisters, to return from abroad for the burial.
Hailing from Comilla, Piash Karim obtained his PhD in Sociology from Kansas State University, USA. He often took part in talk-shows on different TV channels and seminars as a resource person.
He came under fire by different quarters for his comments against Sahahbagh Gonojagoron Mancha and the trial procedure of the International War Crimes Tribunals.
Though there was a plan to bring his body to the Central Shaheed Minar to allow people to pay their their last tributes to him, however, his family members shelved it as the Dhaka University authorities denied permission to bring his body to the Shaheed Minar amid objection to the move by some student and cultural organisations.
As per the changed decision of his family members, the body of Piash Karim was finally taken to his Dhanmondi residence around 10am yesterday instead of Central Shaheed Minar from the mortuary. Later, the mortal remains were brought to the Baitul Aman Jam-e-Mosque premises where his family members, colleagues, students and well-wishers paid their tributes to him.
- See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/oct/18/prof-piash-karim-laid-rest#sthash.HqJjWR2g.dpuf