Former acting secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh ATM Azharul Islam thanked the courts saying that they are playing a pioneering role in establishing justice and his lawyers and student community, demanded justice for the alleged killings of leaders in the Awami League regime, after being freed from prison, while attending a reception ceremony organized at Shahbagh in the capital.
On Wednesday at 9:30am, he left Bangladesh Medical University. Party leaders and activists welcomed him right at the hospital gate. He then joined a public gathering organized at Shahbagh intersection, where he delivered a speech.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court had acquitted Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, overturning the death sentence handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in a war crimes case.
The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by a full bench of seven justices of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, following the hearing of Azhar’s appeal.
The top court has also ordered his immediate release if there are no other pending cases against him.
ATM Azharul Islam and Dr Shafiqur Rahman’s speech at the reception
In his reception ceremony following his release, ATM Azharul Islam alleged that the courts had been misused for so long, and there was no justice.
He expressed hope that in the coming days, courts will work to ensure that people receive fair trials according to their hopes and aspirations.
“I want to thank all the lawyers who were assigned to my case. From what I've learned through newspapers, they presented arguments in a very eloquent and beautiful manner, exposing all the weaknesses and baselessness of my case,” he said.
“It's internationally recognized how previous governments brutally executed our brothers through these cases and killings,” he added.
ATM Azharul Islam further thanked the student community, saying that they made his freedom possible through toppling the Awami League regime on August 5.
“It was the students who took to the streets and shed their blood, mobilizing the people against all the oppression and tyranny of the 15-year fascist government,” he said.
“Through the movement they built on the streets, the fortress was demolished and Bangladesh gained independence anew,” he added.
Citing the references of several Islamist leaders and some other leaders, he demanded bringing anyone to justice who was involved in these killings at any level.
“I emphasize again - whoever was involved in the killings at any level, anywhere, should all be brought under the law and tried. Otherwise, this bad culture will continue, and we must break free from it,” he said.
Citing that his only crime was believing in, instead of a rope around his neck, he said: “I'm receiving flower garlands. I pray that as long as I live, as long as there's a drop of blood in me, I can sacrifice my life for this Islamic movement. I seek your prayers for the divine grace to die as a martyr in this cause.”
Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, said in his speech that this is not the end of the anti-fascist movement, noting that the government fell through the combined efforts of 180 million people of this country.
“We give the main credit to Allah. And on earth, we give all the credit to the people of this country,” he said.
Safiqur Rahman further expected to remain united, and walk together for the nation's needs, and face all conspiracies for the nation's sake.
Left-leaning student organizations protest for his release
The central committee of the Democratic Student Alliance organized a torch procession at the University of Dhaka.
The protesters held a brief rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture of DU around 8pm on Wednesday, protesting against Azharul’s release and attacks on RU and CU units of the Democratic Student Alliance by members of the "Anti-Shahbagh Unity" coalition.
At the Hall Para area of DU, they faced anti-slogans from DU students, whom they claim to be members of Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.
Additionally, at least 12 people were injured, including three in critical condition, when a clash erupted between student groups in Chittagong on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred around 3:30pm in front of the Chittagong Press Club in Jamalkan area during a protest program by the Democratic Student Alliance (a coalition of leftist student organizations).
The Democratic Student Alliance had organized the program to protest the Supreme Court's acquittal of Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam from his death sentence for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
ATM Azharul Islam walked free from prison on Wednesday following the Supreme Court's acquittal of his death sentence, sparking protests from leftist student groups.
During the protest, members of the "Anti-Shahbagh Unity" coalition, which included Islami Chhatra Shibir activists and some leaders from the anti-discrimination student movement, confronted the demonstrators.
The attackers snatched and burned banners of the Democratic Student Alliance before launching physical attacks on the protesters.
Similar clashes also occurred at Rajshahi University, where leftist student groups were holding a torch procession protesting the acquittal of Azharul on Tuesday.
Both sides from RU held separate press conferences on the day of Azharul’s release at the university's Transport Market area, with each group blaming the other for the violence.
The Anti-Shahbagh Unity held their press conference at 11am, while the Democratic Student Alliance conducted theirs at 12:30pm.
In response to the Rajshahi incident, leftist student organizations at Dhaka University immediately organized a torch procession starting from TSC around 10:30pm on Tuesday, which ended at the Raju Sculpture after passing through the residential halls. They were mocked by several students at the Hall Para area of DU.
Charges against ATM Azharul Islam
The International Crimes Tribunal on December 30, 2014, sentenced Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam to death for three charges and imprisonment for three charges.
There were a total of 6 charges against ATM Azharul Islam, and he was acquitted of one of the charges.
On Tuesday, the Appellate Division scrapped its earlier judgement that upheld the conviction and death sentence.
The first charge involved collaborating with Pakistani Army and Jamaat-e-Islami members in March-April 1971 to abduct eleven civilians from Rangpur Sadar, torturing them for seven days in the cantonment before executing them at Dokhigonj crematorium.
He was acquitted of these charges of abduction, confinement, torture, and murder.
The second charge concerned his participation with Pakistani forces in attacking Moksudpur village on April 16, 1971, where they plundered homes, set them on fire, and killed numerous unarmed civilians.
He was found guilty of murder, plundering, and arson, receiving a death sentence by hanging.
The third charge involved his role in systematic attacks on multiple Hindu villages near Jharuarbeel on April 17, 1971, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and over 200 abductions and killings. For genocide, murder, arson, and plundering, he received another death sentence.
The fourth charge related to his leadership of a raid on Rangpur Carmichael College on April 30, 1971, where four Hindu professors and one professor's wife were abducted and murdered. He was found guilty of genocide, abduction, and murder, receiving a third death sentence.
The fifth charge covered March to December 1971, when victims were abducted and confined in Rangpur Town Hall, used as a rape camp where victim "MK" was repeatedly raped and tortured.
He received 25 years of rigorous imprisonment for abduction, confinement, torture, rape, and other inhumane acts.
The sixth charge involved incidents in November and December 1971, where he slapped a youth for chanting "Joy Bangla" and orchestrated the abduction and torture of the youth's brother, who became permanently disabled.
He received 5 years of rigorous imprisonment for abduction, confinement, and torture.
Why was he released?
The 7-member Appellate Division, led by the chief justice, acquitted ATM Azhar based on four key reasons.
The first reason being the previous verdict had changed the established criminal justice system procedures of this Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh - this was the biggest mistake.
The second reason is that ATM Azharul Islam was sentenced to death without properly assessing the evidence presented before the court.
The third reason is that it represents a "Travesty of Truth" in world history - meaning injustice in the name of justice.
And the final reason being the previous Appellate Division failed to properly consider all the evidence and information that had been presented to the court.
