Jamaat's EC registration draws sharp reaction

Different organisations and individuals, who demand prosecution of anti-liberation war criminals, yesterday raised formal objections to Jamaat's possible registration as a parliamentary political party with the Election Commission (EC).
The objections came after the EC had published a public notice on Sunday inviting objections to Jamaat's possible registration accompanied with supporting documents.
If the EC finds the objections to be credible, it will call both sides to the commission secretariat for a hearing, said commission sources.
"We will examine the statements and the documents of both sides before taking a decision," Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain told The Daily Star.
Till yesterday, the EC had published such public notices about 13 parties, but Jamaat is the only party against whom objections were filed so far, the sources said.
War Crimes Facts Finding Committee (WCFFC), Sector Commanders Forum, Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote, and Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote are the organisations that raised the objections against Jamaat.
Forty six professionals in a joint statement also raised a number of complaints against Jamaat, and urged the EC not to register the party.
The objectors said Jamaat is still 'an illegal and unconstitutional party', which was involved in human rights violations including genocide during the country's liberation war in 1971, and it has yet to confess to the crimes.
They also complained that the very important public notice was published only in two newspapers allowing only 48 hours for filing objections. The notice had been issued on October 23, but was published on October 26.
WCFFC's formal objection is strongly worded, which the committee convener, Dr MA Hasan, submitted to the commission in the afternoon. He also handed over a copy to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) ATM Shamsul Huda.
It said Jamaat has been in politics 'illegally and unconstitutionally for a long period as a branch of a foreign party'.
It claimed that the committee had earlier twice lodged complaints against the party on 14 counts with the EC.
"A number of major leaders of Jamaat were involved in war crimes and genocide during the liberation war as they were loyal to Pakistan," Dr Hasan told reporters after a meeting with the CEC.
"But they did not confess to their crimes and did not surrender to the Bangladesh government.”
He said the party has taken a new name and has accepted the constitution of Bangladesh by changing a few words, but also pointed out that not a single member of Jamaat has yet expressed formal loyalty to the country's constitution.
Dr Hasan said, "They [Jamaat leaders] don't admit that they committed crimes by opposing the liberation war, and don't apologise for that."
He said many including al-Badr chief Motiur Rahman Nizami are still among the top leadership of the party.
He alleged that the party established a huge set up in the country with foreign funds in an attempt to influence elections.
Jamaat could not be registered with the EC under the circumstances, he noted.
Dr Hasan also said his organisation prepared a list of about 1,500 war criminals. "We will submit the names of Jamaat leaders and workers to the EC along with evidence," he told reporters.
He also said his organisation is considering legal actions against war criminals.
WCFFC members are scheduled to meet the CEC again with facts and specific proofs on Thursday.
Sector Commanders Forum said Jamaat is trying to deceive the people by changing its name to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
Jamaat changed its constitution in the face of pressure, but it still has a gulf of difference with the spirit of the country's constitution, the forum said in a statement.
It said, "Jamaat opposed our liberation war in collaboration with the Pakistani occupation forces. Leaders and workers of this party were directly involved in rapes, genocide, and plunder in the name of religion. So, we think the party cannot get registration with the EC."
Signed by the chief convener of the forum, Lt Gen M Harun-or-Rashid (retd), the statement urged the EC to publicise Jamaat's amended constitution, and to invite opinions from a cross-section of citizens.
Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee also expressed its astonishment at not finding the public notice about Jamaat in well circulated newspapers and on front ranking electronic media.
"The notice was published in a little circulated daily of a certain quarter, and only 48 hours were allowed for submissions of objections," it said in a written complaint to the EC, urging the commission to extend the deadline for filing objections by seven days.
In a joint statement, Supreme Court Bar Association President Shafiq Ahmed, Justice AFM Mesbahuddin, President of Bangladesh Mohila Parishad Ayesha Khanom, Executive Director of Nari Progoti Sangha Rokeya Kabir, journalist Harun Habib and Mozammel Babu, President of Bangladesh Football Federation Kazi Salauddin, and Barrister Tania Amir also strongly objected to Jamaat's possible registration.
"Over the past 37 years, the party has been spreading venom against the liberation war and the freedom fighters. Recently, they also made derogatory remarks about the historic war," the statement said.
It also said Jamaat changed its constitution only to get registered with the EC. "Changes in its constitution will not change its fundamental spirit," the statement read.