Killers of Jamaat leaders must be punished: ATM Azharul Islam

Jamaat-e-Islami Executive Council Member ATM Azharul Islam, who was acquitted of charges of the 1971's crimes against humanity recently, has said those involved in the killing of Jamaat leaders must be punished.

"Those involved in the murders of top Jamaat leaders in the name of justice must be brought under the law of the land. Otherwise, there will be no rule of law in the country," he said. 

Azharul Islam, also former Assistant Secretary General of Jamat-e-Islami, told a 'Shukrana' (thanksgiving) rally and Eid reunion program at Taraganj Model Government Primary School ground here this afternoon.

Taraganj Upazila Jamaat Ameer SM Alamgir Hossain presided over the program.

Azharul Islam said, "When the full verdict of those Jamaat leaders will be released, we will see that they were killed unjustly."

"Earlier, the court used to run through party politics. Now, that court has been freed. So I got the opportunity to get a verdict in my favor. My verdict was already passed to hang me. By the grace of Allah Almighty, I am free today," he said.

He said, "By Allah, I was not involved in the crime for which I was sentenced to death. I have been framed unfairly. I regret that false charges have been framed against me and false witnesses have been given." 

"But judges need to have a conscience. They sold their conscience then to another place. As long as these unscrupulous judges remain, the people of the country will not get justice," he said.

Azharul Islam said Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Moulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid, Muhammad Kamruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah have been hanged. 

"Our leader Mir Quasem Ali was outside the country. Many people had forbidden him to return to the country. He returned to the country ignoring the fear of death. He was also framed in a false case," he said.

"However, the daughter of 'so-and-so' said that she would not flee the country. Allah has shattered her authority today. Bangladesh is not safe in the hands of those who flee the country," he said.

He said that the interim government has said that the elections will be held by April next year.

"The interim government should quickly complete the reforms and hold elections. People had not been able to vote for 15 years. That's why many people are disgusted with voting. I request that this time we should bring about a voting revolution," he said.

Azharul Islam said, "I contested elections in 1996, 2001 and 2009. I could not become an MP because people did not want me. Jamaat-e-Islami does not want to win the elections by forcefully occupying the voting centers and dragging the voters."

"In the next elections, I will contest from Rangpur-2 (Badarganj-Taraganj) constituency. I promise that if I am elected as an MP, no 'haram' (illegal) money will enter my stomach. I have not eaten any 'haram' money in the past either," he said.

Later, ATM Azharul Islam joined a 'Shukrana' rally and Eid reunion program at the Shahapur ground in Badarganj upazila of Rangpur.  Badarganj Upazila Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Maulana Kamruzzaman Kabir presided over the event.

Assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami and its Rangpur-Dinajpur Regional Director Moulana Abdul Halim, Central Working Committee Member Moulana Momtaz Uddin, Central Working Committee Member and Assistant Rangpur-Dinajpur Region Team Director Professor Mahbubur Rahman Belal, Majlis-e-Shura Member and Rangpur Metropolitan Ameer Vice-principal Moulana ATM Azam Khan and Central Majlis-e-Shura Member and Rangpur District Ameer Professor Muhammad Golam Rabbani addressed the rallies as special guests.