The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal has alleged Azam had not only led the anti-liberation Jamaat-e-Islami during the war but also masterminded and led the barbaric killings by the Pakistan army and their local collaborators.
Azam, according to Prosecutor Tureen Afroz, had “worked as a ‘lighthouse’ for all offenders in 1971.”
Proofs of this allegation can be found in various reports carried by Jamaat’s mouthpiece Daily Sangram and various other broadsheets during the war. Azam’s war-time statements have found their way into various books as well.
A total of 435 newspaper headlines were presented before the judges during witness deposition in the Jamaat stalwart’s case.
This Jamaat leader in many of his speeches had termed the liberation forces ‘traitors’, ‘miscreants’, ‘spies of India’, ‘extremist nationalists’, ‘enemy forces’, ‘infiltrators’, ‘domestic enemy’, among others.
On the other hand, the Pakistani collaborators were ‘patriotic people’ and ‘patriotic citizens’ for him.
Ghulam Azam is believed to be among the core group that came out strongly in support of a united Pakistan. He had allegedly spearheaded the formation of the ‘Shanti Committee’. Various auxiliary forces like the Razakar, Al-Badr, Al Shams were set up under the watch of the committee.
The notorious Al-Badr had spearheaded the killing of Bangladesh’s intellectual elites at the end of the war.
Apr 8, 1971
“India is interfering in the internal matters of East Pakistan. Wherever the Indian or anti-Pakistan agents or the infiltrators would go, the patriots of East Pakistan will annihilate them there.”
Ghulam Azam had vowed to the Pakistan authorities in a joint statement with the then Jamaat’s Publicity Affairs Secretary Maulana Nuruzzaman and Golam Sarowar.
Apr 9-11, 1971
Then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had assured the Lok Sabha of providing assistances to refugees from Bangladesh.
“I am surprised that a responsible person like the Indian Prime Minister had supported and sympathised with the East Pakistanis … India, in fact has hit at the core of our patriotism by sending armed infiltrators into East Pakistan.
“This type of infiltrators will be of no use to the Muslims of this country.”
Daily Sangram had carried his statement on Apr 11.
June 17, 1971
He termed the freedom fighters ‘miscreants’.
In a statement he said: “The miscreants are involved in destructive works aiming at spreading panic among the people and prolonging the state of chaos.
“There are areas in East Pakistan where the miscreants do not allow people to listen to Pakistan Radio.”
June 18-20
Daily Pakistan ran a report quoting Azam. It said he would meet the Pakistan President Yahya Khan and make some ‘recommendations’ on East Pakistan. Publishing those early would not be ‘good’.
The following day he held a meeting with Yahya at Rawalpindi and unveiled his recommendations at a press briefing at the Lahore Airport.
“The people are willing to provide all out assistances to the Pakistan army but they can’t due to threats on their lives. It would have been possible to take control of the situation if the real criminal was nabbed.”
Daily Sangram ran the report on Jun 20 which said the Jamaat chief had urged the government to provide arms to those believing in the ‘ideals and solidarity of the country’ to face the ‘miscreants’.
June 21
“There were no alternatives to saving the country other than military intervention,” Azam had told his party activists at the Lahore office, according to a Sangram report.
June 23
“East Pakistan will always live together with its West Pakistan brothers … The six-point programme of the banned Awami League was to get separate from Pakistan.”
Jamaat mouthpiece ran a report on Azam’s speech at a Karachi rally.
July 19
“Those who are not strong, want independence depending on the strength of Hindustan … There’s no document that Hindus are friends of the Muslims.”
Azam had said it at a Shanti Committee rally in Rajshahi. Sangram ran the report with his picture.
Aug 3
“It is not only the war of arms but also of ideology. We must win this war to save this country for establishing the religion of Allah.
His statement at the madrasa education assembly was published in Sangram the following day.
Aug 14
“I urge all to cooperate with the patriotic Nagarik Shanti Committee to search out the enemies of Pakistan from all areas and razing their existence.”
Azam made the statement at the rally of Shanti Committee’s central body held at Dhaka University’s Curzon Hall on Pakistan’s Independence Day.
Sep 2
“All like-minded and patriotic people of East Pakistan are working together to destroy the separatists. The Razakars are doing a good job in particular.”
Daily Pakistan ran the report quoting Azam.
Azam’s ‘affection’ for the Razakars is evident in the chard part of his autobiographic ‘Jibone Ja Dekhlam’ (Things I saw in life).
On page 150, he wrote: “Those Razakars, who are lying down their lives to save the country from destructive activities, do they not love the country? Can they be the enemy of the motherland?”
Nov 27
“There is no instance in history that a nation survived a war without adopting retaliating measures. Attack, not defence is the best way now.”
Sangram ran a report on Azam’s statement at a Rawalpindi rally the next day.
Dec 2
“The people will provide the armed forces with full assistance to face the current crisis. The Razakars are enough to face the enemies.”
According to the Daily Ittefaq report, Azam made the statement at a press briefing after meeting President Yahya Khan at Rawalpindi. By then, the Pakistanis were on the verge of defeat.
Accompanied by Maulana Abdur Rahim and AKM Yusuf, Azam had left Dhaka for East Pakistan on Nov 22. He did not return to Bangladesh until 1978.
Source: Bd news24
