Shaykh Hyena, Hitler reincarnate?

In a confession on Saturday 31st of May, 2014, Sheikh Hasina for the first time revealed that both US Secretary of State John Kerry and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon had requested her to stop the execution of Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, who was questionably convicted by the domestic International War Crimes tribunal for crimes against humanity in 1971.

However, instead of providing an ounce of logic that could explain her actions, she went full frontal on another explosive rant, a trend that has characterized the classic Sheikh dynastic disdain for anything remotely logical. With a maniacal pompous air that could only emanate from Sheikh Hasina herself, she horrendously declared in front of hundreds of newsmen,

“Who in Bangladesh has the guts to go ahead with the hanging after that?”

“Only Bangabandhu’s daughter (has that).” 

In reply to a question about speeding up the trial of war criminals, “Don’t question me. I will do what I have to do,” 

An insightful response to this rant by eminent defence lawyer for Abdul Quader Mollah, Mr. Toby Cadman (on his facebook page) was, "Interesting comments from a Head of State that claims to exert no control over the Judiciary." 

( For reference, it will be wise to revisit earlier articles on Abdul Quader Mollah, namely the infamous charge on which he was sentenced, some questions and aspects regarding his trial and a detailed follow up of his case written on the Asia Times regarding the case)

   

In any other civilized nation, such comments would have been looked upon with utter horror. In Bangladesh, hardly a few cared, having become used to the audacity and callousness of the comments of the PM, not forgetting to mentions her actions, namely the sham elections on the 5th of January (a nice cartoon by cartoonist Mehedi Haque below)

Juxtapose her comments in line with the current situation residing within the country, where a recent report by manabzamin says that in the last month alone, i.e. in May, a human rights organization reported about 44 abductions and 33 reported missing. Or take for example the flow of events since the seven murders at Narayangonj. The phrase, “Don’t question me. I will do what I have to do,” when combined with the inaction regarding improving the law and security condition in the country and the lack of meaningful steps regarding incarceration of accused security men and people in the administration of which Hasina is head raises many questions, the most simple of which is that whether all this is what she really wants.

The impunity that murderers, violators of human rights and corrupt bigwigs have enjoyed under Sheikh Hasina surpasses anything that Bangladesh has witnessed before. Maybe that is why she is being rightfully taken to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity committed under her regime. From witness accounts to the testimony of relatives, to photographic evidence and video footage there is detailed and deeply disturbing evidence of the systematic repression, torture, murder and forced disappearance of those who support opposition parties and whose views differ from that of the current Regime.

 

Her complete disregard of the concerns raised by the world regarding the flawed trial of Abdul Quader Mollah showcases a fascist mentality that is in the grip of knowledge that it is above law. As cartoonist Mehedi Haque depicts with another toon below, the signs are increasingly apparent that to her, democracy, the rule of the law, and fascism mean the same thing.

Azan and Prayers halted in Bangladesh district for fear of security forces crackdown

Nilphamari: After 5 people were killed and around 50 injured in a clash between Awami Leage coupled with Police against supporters of the 18 Party Alliance in Ramganj Bazar of the district, the unions of Tupamari and Lokkhichap have become deserted.

The police have filed a case in this connection against 14 named and 1500 unnamed suspects, and as a result widespread terror is prevailing among the residents of Tupamari and Lokkhichap unions.

On the other hand, terror is prevalent among supporters of Jamat and BNP residing in the old Ramganj Bazar, Tupamari and Lokkhichpa unions due to them having received threats of having their houses and businesses set on fire, vandalized and looted. In Ramganj Bazar, businessmen have evacuated all of their wares throughout yesterday. A state of fear is prevailing in the area.

The "Joint Forces" raided the area in the name of arrests in the Ramganj Bazar area. They arrested an old man named Hasan Ali Miya from Sukhdon area and arrested 2 other youths from Syedpur area. After this incident the residents are in a state of fear of being arrested, and have fled their houses in fear.

After this incident the mosques are no longer broadcasting the Azan, nor are prayers being held in them.

Even though the Azan is being given from the "Baitul Falah" Mosque whose Imam Kasem Ali is a member of the "Olama League", the Awami League units for "imams" and "scholars" of the party, there are no worshippers. Azan is absent from the Jama Mosque attached to the Dubachori Dakhil Madrasa. A source from the area confirmed that no prayers were being held either.

Translated from below,

News Link: 
1. http://www.timenewsbd.com/holbengal/2013/12/17/19634
2. Newsevent
3. http://www.dailyinqilab.com/2013/12/17/149184.php

Shaheed Abdul Quader Mullah’s Final letter from jail to his wife

Translation Credit: S. Helal

[Page 1]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Dearest life-partner Peyari,

Assalamu alikum wa rahmatullah.

After the full verdict has been published today, it is very likely that, tomorrow night or tomorrow after the order reaches the jail gate, I might be taken to the condemn cell. This is the rule. 

Probably this is the last moment of the government. Hence, at the last moment they might proceed to hurriedly commit this heinous act. I suspect that they will not accept the review petition. Even if they accept it, there is no possibility, from the worldly point of view, to change their verdict. It is a different matter if Almighty Allah himself intervenes against the conspiracy of implementing this verdict. But, according to the eternal law, Allah does not do like that (intervene) all the time. 

[Page 2]

The unbelievers killed unjustly even many of the prophets. Many honorable companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), even female companions, were murdered barbarically. In exchange of those martyrdoms, Allah has utilized those [sacrifices] in the way of making the truth and Islam victorious. There is no way to know what Allah might [ultimately] do in my case.

Yesterday, the foreign secretary of India not only encouraged the Awamileague, but also pressurized Hussain Muhammad Ershad. She even warned him about the possibility of Jamaat-Shibir coming into the power. This shows that the phobia and the hatred towards Jamaat-Shibir have spread within every blood-cells of India. I have been saying it from the beginning that, 

[Page 3]

Whatever actions are being taken against us, all of these have been designed by India. The Awamileague cannot back away from it even if it wants to. Because this time they [the Awamileague] came into the power only by surrendering to India. 

There are many people talking about principles and ethics. The way all of Jamaat including me were framed and the way almost all of the press in our country have assisted the government in its unjust actions, then what is the point of [talking about] principles and ethics by the government? While the judiciary/trial itself has taken the role of the hangman and has become intoxicated with a desire to kill innocent people, it is not right in any way to expect the natural fair trial and justice from them. I have only one regret- I am not able to explain it to the nation of the [unjust] way we, especially I, have been given the death penalty.

[Page 4]

It is not entirely possible as the whole media is hostile towards us. But the nation and the just people of the world will definitely know the [truth]; and my death will be a cause for the downfall of this oppressive regime; and the Islamic movement will advance a long way [because of this injustice], InshaAllah.

Yesterday I read again from verse 17 to verse 24 of Surah At Tawbah. In verse 19, it is mentioned that the fighting [jihad] in the cause of Allah with one’s life and wealth is far more superior in rewards than serving the house of Allah [Ka’ba] and giving drinks to the pilgrims. This means that, Allah himself mentioned about the far higher status near to Allah for those giving their lives in the cause of Allah [Jihad] in order to establish a just society of Islam, fighting against injustice, than those who die naturally. If Allah himself wants to place me in such a honorable position in Jannah/paradise then 

[Page 5]

I should be ready to embrace such a death. Because dying unjustly in the hands of the oppressors is a ‘confirm ticket’ to the Jannah/paradise. 

Probably in 1966, the tyrant ruler of Egypt, Colonel Nasser, put to death Saiyed Qutub, Dr Abdul Quader Awdah and many others. I have listened to many lectures titled such as ‘Trials/Tribulations in the way of Islamic Movement’. More than once after such lectures, Professor Gulam Azam used to say by touching my shoulders with his left hand that, the rope of gallows might fall onto this shoulder too! My hands also went near to the shoulders [thinking about it]. If this time Allah truly implements his decision as a mean to advance the Islamic movement and [raise in honor] myself further, and as a cause for the downfall of the oppressive regime, then what is the loss in that? While speaking about the high status for the martyrs, 

[Page 6]

the Holy Prophet [PBUH] expressed his desire to ‘come back to life repetitively in order to die as a martyr again and again’. Those who die as martyrs will also express their desire in the Jannah/paradise for coming back to life and die again as martyrs. The word of Allah is indeed the truth. The word of the Holy Prophet [PBUH] is indeed the truth. There is no Imaan/faith if one doubts in them.

If they [the government] do implement their decision [to hang me] then they may not allow for my funeral to take place in Dhaka. If possible then try to arrange for my funeral at my village mosque and my house. If the people living at the other side of the Padma [river] want to attend the funeral then they should come to the area near my house. They must be informed about that. 

[Page 7]

I have already told you about the grave; it should be at my mother’s feet. There must not be any expensive/wasteful function or any innovative practices like walling the grave. Give donations to orphanage as much as possible. Take care of those families suffering losses while involved in the Islamic movement, especially those martyred during protests against my arrest and verdict. Give priorities to those families when suffering any hardships. 

Arrange for the marriage of Hasan Moudud soon after finishing the studies. Same goes for Nazneen. 

[Page 8]

Peyari, O Peyari,

I have not been able to fulfill many rights of you and of the children. Please forgive me with the intention of getting rewards from Allah. I pray especially for you that, Allah arrange for your meeting with me again soon after you will have completed your duties towards the children and the religion of Allah. Now you pray so that, Allah takes away all love, [feelings] and attractions for this world from my mind, and instead fill my whole heart only with the love for Allah and His Prophet (PBUH). 

InshaAllah, see you again on the steps of Jannah/paradise.

Always advise the children for lawful earnings. All of you be careful about the Fard and Wajib duties, especially about the prayers. Give same counsel to the relatives as well. Give condolence/comfort to my father if he is still alive until then. 

Your beloved,

Abdul Quader Mollah

The curious case of Abdul Quader Molla

Mr. Abdul Qader Mollah is probably the most talked about Bangladeshi these days. The highest court in our country had ordered him to be executed through a questionable legal[1] process and in violation of international [2]and human rights [3]laws. Worrying yet is the huge pressure on the government, both from within and outside, to carry out the execution at the earliest date possible. Even the attorney general of Bangladesh has called for immediate implementation [4]of this judicial execution.

In this short note, we provide three damning arguments proving why the sentence by the Supreme-court of Bangladesh is in and of itself fundamentally flawed.

1.     Retroactively sentenced:  The death sentence against Mr. Mollah was handed down based on retroactively amended legislation. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Bangladesh is a state party, prohibits the retroactive application of criminal law¹; and as such retroactively amended legislation is not valid in Bangladesh itself and clearly violates international fair trial standards.

One may question, what is wrong with it, as long as it serves a noble purpose – namely bringing the perpetrators of 1971 to justice. Well, first of all, the perpetrators of 1971 is a long story that is beyond our scope here; but suffice it to say, the whole International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) fiasco is far from bringing the perpetrators of 1971 to justice. More importantly, the end cannot justify the means in a legal context; and the practice of retroactive legislation can end up in very murky waters. For example, suppose a staunchly anti-shahbag government comes to power with two-third majority in the future, and passes a retroactive legislation making all activities related to the shahbag protest tantamount to treason! Then there would be no legal barrier to executing all those involved in shahbag movement.

2.     Innocence proven beyond doubt, yet found guilty: Although Mr. Mollah’s defense team was only allowed 6 defense witnesses; they were able to prove beyond reasonable doubt[5], that Mr. Mollah was not involved whatsoever with the horrendous allegations against him. In fact, he had trained to participate in the liberation war, and was awaiting his turn in Faridpur to join the battle. He resumed his studies at Dhaka University immediately after 1971, and had later become a teacher at the Udayan school and the Rifles school in the center of Dhaka. He was also a member of the Chatra Union (Matia group) and an ex-comrade of Matia Chowdhury and Nurul Islam Nahid during his student days[6]. It seems his only crime is to have taken a principled stand in the politics of Bangladesh rather than being one of the many opportunists all around us.

3.     Sentence for execution on the basis of lies and deceit: Momena Begum was about 12 or 13 when her immediate family members were brutally massacred in Mirpur, Dhaka by unknown assailants on March 26, 1971. Up until 2007, Momena Begum, a class five graduate, had neither filed any complaints to any court of law, nor brought up the issue of her family member’s massacre to any media. Then, on 28 September 2007, she gave a statement in relation to her family’s massacre to a researcher at Jallad Khana, the annex of the Liberation War Museum officer, in which she blamed her Bihari neighbours for her family’s brutal murder[7]. Of all her family members, only she survived as she had left for her father-in-law’s place two days prior to the fatal incident. Fast forward five years, and this Momena Begum reappears in the ICT testifying that she had heard Mr. Mollah was an associate of one Akter Gunda who had killed people in Mirpur (Note: sill no allegation of Mr. Mollah’s involvement in her family’s killing). Surprisingly such a contradictory and inconclusive statement[8] was sufficient to find Mr. Mollah guilty and ‘deserving’ the death sentence!!

Worse still is the recent revelation of the fact that the Momena Begum who testified at the ICT in 2012 is not the real Momena Begum, daughter of Hazrat Ali. It was ‘someone else’ – possibly an associate of the state prosecutors – pretending to be her[9]. It has been further reported, though could not be independently confirmed, that the actual Moment Begum has been kidnapped and is being held at an unknown location by the state security forces.

The judiciary in Bangladesh does not have an exemplary record of being just and fair, especially in recent times. However, executing Mr. Mollah through such a flawed process would definitely be a new (all-time) abyss, and a disgrace to any process of law anywhere in the world. We must stand up and voice out against such a violation of the fundamental rights of a fellow Bangladeshi for the sake of Truth, Justice and our Bangladesh herself.

------------------------------

1 http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/12/08/bangladesh-halt-execution-war-crimes-accused

2 http://www.icj.org/bangladesh-abdul-quader-mollah-death-sentence-violates-international-law/

3 https://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media/press-releases/bangladesh-death-sentence-without-right-judicial-appeal-defies-human-rights

4 http://tinyurl.com/ozb3fzr

5 See http://bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspot.dk/search/label/Molla%20index

 for detailed proceedings.

6 Confirmed by a BAL MP in one of his writings (I can’t find the reference at the moment).

7 http://www.newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-10-07&nid=68309#.UqSkar-D5R9

8 Justice Abdul Wahhab commented in the judgment of Mr. Mollah “PW3 (Momena Begum) in her statements made to the Investigation Officer during investigation did not implicate the accused with the horrific incident which took place on 26.03.1973 and specifically stated that the Biharis and the Pakisan army committed the crime” - http://tinyurl.com/pfyrp7g, pg.473

9 http://tinyurl.com/nouhhv6

Note: The writer wishes to remain anonymous and would like the article to be shared widely on social media.

Abdul Kader Mollah: Questions that will haunt your free mind

Abdul Kader Mollah’s appeal verdict will be given any day by the ICT. Few expect anything out of line from the judges, all of whom have been installed with the explicit blessing of the Awami League government, their political affiliation being of paramount importance. So let us recap back to the questions that will always cast into doubt the trial processes and haunt the free minds forever.

More than 40 years have passed since heinous crimes were committed during the War of Independence of Bangladesh. The memories were fresh then and the perpetrators widely known to many. If Jamaat leader Abdul Kader Mollah was allegedly involved in murder and other heinous war crimes more than 40 years ago, then how on earth …..

1. How was he able to continue his studies from late 1972 onwards as a fully fledged resident student of Dhaka University Shahidullah Residence Hall?

2. How was he able to teach from 1974-1975 at Udayan High School, situated at the heart of Dhaka University between Salimullah Muslim Hall and Jagannath Hall?

3. How was he able to discharge his duties as a senior teacher and acting Principal of Bangladesh Rifles College in 1977? This was at a time when his party, Jamaat-e-Islami was far from being in power; it was banned!

4. If he was truly a well known and publicly marked war criminal, then how on earth did he get elected twice in 1982 and 1983 as the vice president of the revered journalist union body, the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ)? If the progressive journalists who waste column after column today in trying to validate allegations of heinous nature against Abdul Kader Mollah knew him as a war criminal and butcher from more than 40 years ago, why did they vote for him back then?

5. Cases against 37,000 accused were filed under the Collaborators Act. Why was there NOT EVEN ONE General Diary (GD) filed against him then???  

Questions that will haunt the conscience of your free mind………

Call with us. Stand with us. Call to free #FreeAbdulKaderMollah