War crimes: ICT probes allegations against Jamaat chief

Three days into taking the oath as new chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has begun enquiry into the war crimes allegation against Maqbul Ahmad.

The 70-year-old leader, who had been the party's acting ameer for the last six years, has been elected to the top post of the party that vehemently opposed and rejected Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971 and its subsequent independence from Pakistan.

Coordinator of the agency Abdul Hannan Khan said Maqbul’s name was mentioned in the razakar’s list of Feni though no specific allegations were found.

Recently two online newspapers have published news where two specific allegations were made against Maqbul, he said.

“We’re now enquiring into the allegations,” said Hannan adding “If the allegations come out true in the enquiry, we’ll begin a formal investigation.”

The agency has appointed a senior investigation officer yesterday for the enquiry.

Meanwhile, Jamaat in a press statement claimed Maqbul was not involved in any crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Jamaat was banned in independent Bangladesh until 1979 when the party was reborn following the lifting of the ban against a backdrop of a political changeover.

On August 17, the party's rukans (oath taking members), by a secret ballot that held at 83 organisational districts of the party, appointed Maqbul as the ameer for the tenure beginning in 2017 and ending in 2019.

Of the war crimes convict Jamaat leaders including former chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Mir Quasem Ali, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah were executed while Ghulam Azam sentenced to 90 years jail and Delawar Hossain Sayedee imprisonment until death.