War criminal Ghulam Azam's funeral held at nat'l mosque amid protests

Namaz-e-janaza of the supreme leader of all war criminals in the country, Ghulam Azam, being held at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital yesterday afternoon amid a strong vigilance of law enforcers as different quarters tried to resist his funeral from taking place there. Photo: Star

Ghulam Azam, the most prominent symbol of war crimes in Bangladesh, was buried as per his last wish beside his father's grave at his Moghbazar family graveyard beside his residence in the capital yesterday.

In an address, customary in Islam seeking forgiveness for the dead from the attendance before the namaz-e-janaza, his son Abdullahil Aman Azmi did not seek forgiveness for his father's genocidal crimes. Neither had the former Jamaat-e-Islami chief in his lifetime.

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Instead, Azmi said, “He never consciously hurt anyone's feelings. If he has unintentionally done so, then forgive him...I beg the people of the country to forgive him if his words, behaviour or acts have personally hurt anyone.”

Amidst strong vigilance of law enforcers, thousands of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and activists attended the janaza at the Baitul Mukarram national mosque, conducted by Azmi.

His son and lawyers said Ghulam Azam had wanted his janaza be conducted by either Motiur Rahman Nizami, a convict in a smuggling case and a war crimes accused, or Delawar Hossain Sayedee, a war crimes convict, both serving jail terms.

Besides none of his five sons, whose expected arrival had kept the janaza and burial waiting, were present at the funeral.

During the janaza, Bangladesh Sommilito Islami Jote formed a human chain nearby before Jatiya Press Club protesting the use of the venue.

Protesting the move, Bangladesh Sommilito Islami Jote forms a human chain before Jatiya Press Club, a walking distance away. Photo: Star

More protesters of Islami Oikyo Jote, Blogger and Online Activist Network, and Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree were stopped at the Paltan intersection by policemen who halted traffic in several nearby streets. Two crude bombs were also exploded close by.

Only Gayeshwar Chandra Roy joined the mourning procession from BNP.

In the address, Azmi also said his father had to be in jail for around three years in a “false case”. “He spent the last days of his life in inhuman condition. It is unforgettable...I hope lakhs of Ghulam Azam will be born in the country through his death. They will uphold the flag of Islam in the country,” he said.

Hospital authorities told The Daily Star that Ghulam Azam had been provided the maximum facilities possible, which war crimes trial campaigners and victims have repeatedly protested since it came out of taxpayers' money.