Jamaat wants judicial probe into killing of intellectuals on 14 Dec 1971

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has called for the formation of a judicial investigation commission to thoroughly investigate the murders of the intellectuals on 14 December 1971 and ensure that those responsible are identified and given exemplary punishment. 

Mohammad Selim Uddin, the party's central executive council member and Dhaka north unit ameer, called for the judicial probe in a statement sent to the media today (14 December) on Martyred Intellectuals' Day.

"The fallen Awami fascists have misled the nation with their politics surrounding the murders of the martyred intellectuals over the past half-century," he said in the statement.

Selim Uddin said, "The intellectuals are the greatest sons of the nation. Their intellect, thought, and wisdom guide the nation. However, the brutal and merciless killing of these intellectuals just two days before the great victory is truly mysterious.

"Even after five decades of independence, this incident remains mysterious," he added.

Jamaat Dhaka north unit ameer also said the post-independence government blamed political opponents for the killings of the martyred intellectuals without any effective steps to uncover the truth.

"The issue was used politically instead," he added.

In the statement, Selim expressed deep sympathy to the families of the martyrs.

"Those who did not want our nation to stand tall are the dark forces behind this brutal and merciless massacre. Yet, it is extremely regrettable that the perpetrators of this crime remain beyond reach even after five decades of victory," he said in the statement.

Selim also said the mystery surrounding the murder of Zahir Raihan, the renowned intellectual, journalist, and writer, as well as the brother of martyred intellectual Shahidullah Kaisar, has still not been unravelled.

"Zahir Raihan, who was an eyewitness to many incidents, was abducted and killed before the mystery could be unravelled. He was targeted because he had various documents, materials, and documentaries related to the Liberation War, which ultimately led to his brutal death," said the Jamaat Dhaka north ameer in the statement.

He said, "Those who feared the release of these documents — whose secrets would have been exposed — were directly involved in these killings."

"At that time, the ruling powers were accustomed to shifting the blame," he added.

He called for the formation of a judicial investigation commission to thoroughly investigate the murders of the intellectuals and ensure that those responsible are identified and given exemplary punishment.

Otherwise, he warned, "the brutal killings would remain shrouded in mystery."