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Ghulam Azam

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Ghulam Azam
Born(1922-11-07)7 November 1922
Died23 October 2014(2014-10-23)(aged 91)
Resting placeMoghbazar,Dhaka[2]
NationalityBritish Indian(1922–1947)

Pakistani(1947–1994)

Bangladeshi(1994–2014)
Alma materDhaka University
Occupation(s)Teacher, Leader ofJamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh
Known forGenocideofBangladesh Liberation War,War crimes, Islamist Politics
Political partyBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Criminal statusDeceased
SpouseAfifa Azam
Children6, includingBrig. Gen. Azmi
Conviction(s)Conspiracyandincitementin committinggenocidein 1971Liberation war of Bangladesh
Criminal penalty90 years imprisonment
Leader ofJamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh
Jamaat-e-Islami East Pakistan(1960-1971)
In office
1960–2000
Preceded byAbdur Rahim
Succeeded byMotiur Rahman Nizami
Personal details
Political partyJamaat-e-Islami

Ghulam Azam(Bengali:গোলাম আযম;Urdu:غلام اعظم;7 November 1922 – 23 October 2014) was a veteran Bangladeshi Islamist politician. He was the formerleaderofBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami,the oldest and the largest Islamic political party in Bangladesh.[3]

Sheikh Ghulam Azam was arrested by thegovernment of Bangladeshon 11 January 2012 after he was found guilty in war crimes charges during the 1971Bangladesh Liberation War.

A member ofJamaat-e-Islami Pakistan,during the war he unsuccessfully opposed the breakup of Pakistan.[4][5]He subsequently led the Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh until 2000.[6][7][8][9][10]

On 15 July 2013, a Bangladeshi special tribunal, theInternational Crimes Tribunalfound him guilty of war crimes such as conspiring, planning, incitement to and complicity in committing genocide and was sentenced to 90 years in jail.[8][9]The tribunal stated that Azam deserved capital punishment for his activity duringLiberation war of Bangladesh,but was given a lenient punishment of imprisonment because of his age and poor health condition.[6][7][11]The trial was criticized by several international observers, includingHuman Rights WatchandAmnesty International.Human Rights Watch, which was initially supportive of a trial subsequently criticized "strong judicial bias towards the prosecution and grave violations of due process rights", calling the trial process deeply flawed and unable to meet international fair trial standards.[12][13][14][15]Notably, it was at the center of the2012 ICT Skype controversy.[16]

As a leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, he led the formation of theShanti Committeesthat were formed at the time of the Liberation War alongside other pro-Pakistan Bengali leaders.[17]Azam was accused of forming paramilitary groups for the Pakistani Army, includingRazakars,andAl-Badr.[18]Thesemilitiasopposed theMukti Bahinimembers who fought for the independence of Bangladesh, and also stand accused of war crimes.[17][19][20][21] Azam's citizenship was cancelled by the Bangladeshi Government because of playing an opposition role during the Bangladesh liberation war.[22]

He lived informally in Bangladesh from 1978 to 1994 without any authorised Bangladeshi visa. His citizenship was then reinstated by theSupreme Court of Bangladesh.[23][24][25]

Azam was arrested on 11 January 2012 by the International Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh on the charges of committing war crimes during the Bangladesh liberation war.[26][27]The tribunal rejected the plea of bail after noting that there were formal charges against Azam of which it had taken cognisance.[28]

He was 91 when he died of a stroke on23 October 2014atBSMMU.[29]

Thousands of people attended his funeral prayers that were televised and held at the National Mosque of BangladeshBaitul Mukarram.[30]

Early life and education

[edit]

Sheikh Ghulam Azam was born on 7 November 1922 in his maternal home, theShah Saheb Bariof Lakshmibazar,Dacca,Bengal Presidency.He was the eldest son of Sheikh Ghulam Kabir and Sayeda Ashrafunnisa. His ancestral home is Maulvi Bari (House of Muslim Scholars) in Birgaon Village,Brahmanbaria,his paternal family is the nobleSheikhfamily of Birgaon, he descends from Sheikh Zaqi in his 6th generation who had migrated fromArabia,as aMuslimpreacher.[31]His lineage is Sheikh Ghulam Azam, son of Mawlana Sheikh Ghulam Kabir, son of Mawlana Sheikh Abdus Subhan, son of Sheikh Shahabuddin, son of Sheikh Bakhtiar, son of Sheikh Zaqi.[32]His maternal family is aSyedPeerfamily, they are still highly respected by the locals for religious guidance.[31]His father was amawlanawho hailed from the village of Birgaon inNabinagar,Brahmanbaria,Tipperah District.Azam's education began at the localmadrasain Birgaon and then completed his secondary school education inDhaka.After that, he enrolled atDacca Universitywhere he completed BA and MA degrees inpolitical science.[25]

Early political career

[edit]

University

[edit]

While studying at the University of Dhaka, Azam became active in student's politics and was elected as the General Secretary of theDhaka University Central Students' Union(DUCSU) for the two consecutive years between 1947 and 1949. As a General Secretary of the DUCSU, Azam in 1947 submitted a memorandum on the union's behalf to thePrime Minister of PakistanLiaquat Ali Khan,demanding thatBengalibe made a state language along withUrdu.At that time, Bangladesh was part of Pakistan and known as "East Pakistan".[25][a]

Jamaat-e-Islami

[edit]

In 1950, Azam left Dhaka to teach political science at the Government Carmichael College inRangpur.During this time, he was influenced by the writings ofAbul Ala Maududiand he joined Maududi's partyJamaat-e-Islami Pakistanin 1954, and was later elected as the Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami'sEast Pakistanbranch.[25]

In 1964, the government ofAyub Khanbanned Jamaat-e-Islami and its leaders, including Azam, and imprisoned them for eight months without trials. He played a prominent role as the general secretary of the Pakistan Democratic Movement formed in 1967 and later, he was elected as the member of Democratic Action Committee in 1969 to transform the anti-Ayub movement into a popular uprising. In 1969, he became theAmeerof the Jamaat in East Pakistan. He and other opposition leaders including future President of BangladeshSheikh Mujibur Rahmantook part in the Round Table Conference held in Rawalpindi in 1969 to solve the prevailing political impasse in Pakistan.[25]On 13 March 1969, Khan announced his acceptance of their two fundamental demands of parliamentary government and direct elections.[34]

In the runup to the1970 Pakistani general election,Azam together with leaders of a number of other parties in East Pakistan (including thePakistan Democratic Party,National Awami Party,Jamiat Ulema-e-Islamand the Pakistan National League) protested at theAwami Leagueapproach to electioneering for, accusing them of breaking up public meetings, physical attacks on political opponents and the looting and destruction of party offices.[35]During 1970, while Azam was the head of Jamaat-e-Islami East Pakistan, a number of political rallies, including rallies of Jamaat-e-Islami, were attacked by armed mobs alleged to be incited by the Awami League.[36][37]

Bangladesh Liberation War

[edit]

Activities during 1971 War

[edit]

During theBangladesh Liberation War,Azam took a political stance in support of unified Pakistan,[38][39]and repeatedly denounced Awami League andMukti Bahinisecessionists,[40]whose declared aim after 26 March 1971 became the establishment of an independent state of Bangladesh in place of East Pakistan. Excerpts from Azam's speeches after 25 March 1971 used to be published in the spokespaper of theBangladesh Jamaat-e-IslaminamedThe Daily Sangram.On 20 June 1971, Azam reaffirmed his support for the Pakistani army by citing that 'the army has eradicated nearly all criminals of East Pakistan'.[40]

East Pakistan Central Peace Committee

[edit]

During the war of 1971, it was alleged that Azam played a central role in the formation ofEast Pakistan Central Peace Committeeon 11 April 1971, which declared the independence movement a conspiracy planned by India.[17][41]It was also alleged that Azam was one of the founding members of this organization.[17]The Peace Committee members were drawn from Azam's Jamaat-e-Islami, the Muslim League andBiharis.[42]The Peace Committee served as a front for the army, informing on the civil administration as well as the general public. They were also in charge of confiscating and redistribution of shops and lands from Hindu and pro-independence Bengali activists, mainly relatives and friends of Mukti Bahini fighters. The Shanti Committee has also been alleged to have recruitedRazakars.[18]The first recruits included 96 Jamaat party members, who started training in an Ansar camp at Shahjahan Ali Road, Khulna.[43][44]During Azam's leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami, Ashraf Hossain, a leader of Jamaat's student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha, created theAl-Badrmilitia in Jamalpur district on 22 April 1971.[45]On 12 April 1971, Azam andMatiur Rahman Nizamiled demonstrations denouncing the independence movement as an Indian conspiracy.[46]

Azam denies the association between the Peace Committee and the Razakar militia as they were formed by the government and headed by Pakistani army generalTikka Khan.[39][47]

During the war, Azam travelled to West Pakistan at the time to consult the Pakistani leaders.[48]He declared that his party (Jamaat) is trying its best to curb the activities of pro-independence "Miscreants".[49]He took part in meetings with GeneralYahya Khan,the military dictator of Pakistan, and other military leaders, to organize the campaign against Bangladeshi independence.[48]

Anti- Indian Statements

[edit]

On 12 August 1971, Azam declared in a statement published in theDaily Sangramthat "the supporters of the so-called Bangladesh Movement are the enemies of Islam, Pakistan, and Muslims".[50]He also called for an all out war against India.[51]He called for the annexation ofAssam.[52]

Azam was also alleged as the prime standard-bearer who presented the blueprint of the killing of the intellectuals during a meeting withRao Farman Aliin early September 1971.[53]According to this blue print, Pakistani Army and the local collaborators executed the killing of theBengali intellectualson 14 December 1971.

Ghulam Azam meets Governor Lt. Gen.Tikka Khan,one of the top architects ofOperation Searchlighton 4 Apr. 1971 in Dhaka

On 20 June 1971, Azam declared inLahorethat the Hindu minority in East Pakistan, under the leadership ofSheikh Mujibur Rahman,are conspiring to secede from Pakistan.[49]On 12 August 1971, Azam declared in a statement published in theDaily Sangramthat "the supporters of the Bangladesh Movement are the enemies of Islam, Pakistan, and Muslims".[50]On his part, Azam denied all such accusations and challenged the validity of some, giving reasons to justify others.[54]However, he later admitted that he was on the list of collaborators of the Pakistani army, but denied he was a war criminal.[41]In 2011, Azam denied such sentiments and claimed that thePakistani governmentcensoredSangram.[39]

1971 election

[edit]

The military junta of GeneralYahya Khandecided to call an election in an effort to legitimize themselves. On 12 October 1971, Yahya Khan declared that an election will be held from 25 November to 9 December. Azam decided to take part in this election.[55][better source needed]According to a government declaration of 2 November, 53 candidates would be elected without competition. Jamaat would receive 14 of the uncontested seats.[56]

In 2011 Azam claimed that the reason for his opposition to thecreation of Bangladeshwere only political, and he denied participation in any crime.[39]He also feared economic dominance byIndia.[39]

Leader of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh

[edit]

The government of newly independent Bangladesh, bannedBangladesh Jamaat-e-Islamiand cancelled Azam's citizenship, along with that ofNurul Amin,the former prime minister due to their opposition toBangladesh's independence.[22][39] Following theindependence of Bangladesh,he migrated toPakistan.[39]Azam lived in exile in London until he was allowed to return home in 1978.[25]

Jamaate-e-Islami became active again whenZiaur Rahmanbecame president aftera coup in 1975and lifted the previous ban on religious parties. In 1977, Zia removed secularism in the constitution, replacing it withIslamicideals, further clearing the way for Jamaat-e-Islami to return to political participation.[25]In 1978, Azam returned to Bangladesh on a Pakistani passport with a temporary visa, and stayed as a Pakistani national until 1994 even after his visa expired; he refused to leave the country and continued to live in Bangladesh.[23][24]His stay was however unwelcome in Bangladesh, and he was beaten by an angry mob at the footsteps of theBaitul Mukarrammosque while attending a funeral in 1981.[57]

In the 1980s, Azam was particularly critical of the military rule ofGeneral Ershadafter he seized power in a bloodless coup in 1982 and Jamaat-e-Islami took part in demonstrations and strikes as well as other opposition parties such as the Awami League and theBangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP). He proposed a caretaker government system to facilitate free and fair elections, which was adopted in 1990. In the1991 Bangladeshi general election,Jamaat-e-Islami won 18 seats and its support allowed the BNP to form a government.[25]

During this time, he acted unofficially as the Ameer (leader) of Jamaat-e-Islami until 1991, when he was officially elected to the post. This led the government arresting him and an unofficial court called "The People's Court" was established by the civilians such asJahanara Imamto try alleged war criminals and anti-independence activists. Imam held a symbolic trial of Azam where thousands of people gathered and gave the verdict that Azam's offences committed during the Liberation War deserve capital punishment.[58]In 1994, he fought a lengthy legal battle which resulted in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruling in his favor and restoring his nationality.[25]

In the1996 election,Jamaat won only three seats, and most of their candidates lost their deposits.[59]Azam announced his retirement from active politics in late 2000. He was succeeded by another war criminalMotiur Rahman Nizami.[10]

War crimes trial

[edit]

Arrest and incarceration

[edit]

On 11 January 2012, Azam was arrested on charges of committingcrimes against humanityand peace, genocide and war crimes in 1971 by theInternational Crimes Tribunal.His petition for bail was rejected by the ICT, and he was sent toDhaka Central Jail.However, three hours later he was taken to theBangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU) hospital for a medical check-up because of his aging. According toThe Daily Star,Azam was allowed to remain in a hospital prison cell despite being declared fit for trial by a medical team on 15 January.[60][61]The same paper later acknowledged that he had been placed there because to his "ailing condition".[62]

Azam's health was deteriorating rapidly since being imprisoned.[63]His wife, Syeda Afifa Azam reported in several newspapers as being shocked about Azam's treatment and stated that he was very weak and had lost 3 kilograms in a month due to malnutrition.[40]She described his treatment as "a gross violation of human rights" even though he was kept in a hospital prison cell.[64][65]

Azam's wife complained that he had been denied proper family visits and access to books, saying that this amounted to "mental torture".[66]The Daily Starreported that Azam's wife and his counsels were allowed to meet him on 18 February.[62] On 25 February 2012,The Daily Starfurther reported that Azam's nephew was denied a visit shortly before he was about to enter hospital prison. This was despite the application for the visit being first approved.[67]

During the trial, former advisor to theCaretaker government of Bangladesh,human rights activist and witness for the prosecutionSultanaa Kamalsaid- "In brutality, Ghulam Azam is synonymous with German ruler Hitler who had influential role in implementation and execution of genocide and ethnic cleansing".[68]In response to this statement, the defence counsel pointed out that the comparison was a fallacy and "fake with malicious intention" as Hitler held state power, which Azam did not and that in 1971 General Tikka Khan and Yahya Khan held state power.[69]Prosecutor ofICTZead-Al-Malum said- "He was the one making all the decisions, why would he need to be on any committee? Being Hitler was enough for Hitler in World War II".[70]

Islamic activists from different countries expressed their concerns for Mr. Azam. TheInternational Union of Muslim Scholars,chaired byYusuf al-Qaradawicalled the arrest "disgraceful", and called on the Bangladesh government to release him immediately, stating that "the charge of Professor Ghulam Azam and his fellow scholars and Islamic activists of committing war crimes more than forty years ago is irrational and cannot be accepted".[71]

The judicial process under which Azam was on trial was criticized by international organizations such asHuman Rights WatchandAmnesty International.[72][73]

Verdict

[edit]

Azam was convicted of war crimes during theBangladesh Liberation Warby the controversial International Crimes Tribunal-1 of Bangladesh.[7]The charges against Azam were torturing and the killings of a police officer Shiru Mia and three other civilians. He was found guilty on all five charges and was sentenced to 90 years in prison.

The presiding judge Justice A. T. M. Fazle Kabir pronounced that: “This case is different from others. The accused was never present in any account of atrocities and the main allegation against the accused is superior responsibility and that he was the chief of the East Pakistan unit of Jamaat - e - Islami during the 1971 Liberation War and the para-militia forces likeAl-BadrandAl-Shamswere formed with a large number of Jamaat members.” The judge also added: “The documents which the prosecution has submitted as evidence were not adequate. Books containing concrete information are more acceptable as reference.”[74]

The judges unanimously agreed that Azam deserved capital punishment but was given a lenient punishment because of his aging and poor health condition.[7][11]

Responses

[edit]

Azam had always maintained that he never participated in any crimes but tried "to help people as much as he could."[39]In a press release, Jamaat's Acting Secretary General Rafiqul Islam rejected the International Crimes Tribunal's verdict against Azam by stating his conviction "nothing but a reflection of what AL-led 14-party alliance leaders had said against him Ghulam Azam in different meetings".[75]TheDaily Amardeshreported that the evidence presented before the court against Ghulam Azam consisted of newspaper clippings published during 1971. "[76][77]

Death

[edit]

Ghulam Azam died after suffering a stroke on 23 October 2014 at 10:10 PM atBSMMUwhile serving jail sentences for crimes against humanity during Bangladesh Liberation War. His death was reported by Abdul Majid Bhuiyan, director of BSMMU. Ghulam Azam was put on life support system at 8 PM.[78][79]He was also suffering from kidney ailments.[80] Azam was buried at his family graveyard atMoghbazar,Dhaka on 25 October. Hisnamaz-e-janaza(Islamic funeral prayer) was held at Bangladesh's national mosqueBaitul Mokarram,which is still considered one of the largest gatherings at any funeral prayers. Different quarters of the country protested against taking Azam's body to the national mosque because of his war crimes conviction and his opposition role to theindependence of the country.[2]

Family

[edit]

His son,Abdullahil Amaan Azmiwas brigadier in theBangladesh Armywho was dismissed without explanation. He had been missing since 2016.[81]In 2022, it was revealed by an investigative report byNetra Newsthat he was detained at secret prison calledAynaghar,run by theDirectorate General of Forces Intelligence.[82] In August 2024, after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's autocratic government, he was released from Aynaghar after 9 years of disappearance.[83]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^Although his published interview in Daily Azad on June 20, 1970 states "Bangla was a wrong decision with regard to the establishment of Pakistan sinceUrduwas widely used and all Muslims of the Indian subcontinent were Urdu speakers. "[33]

References

[edit]
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  6. ^abIslam, Udisa (15 July 2013)."Ghulam Azam spared death".Dhaka Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon 17 September 2016.Retrieved20 October2013.
  7. ^abcdManik, Julfikar Ali; Khan, Mahbubur Rahman (16 July 2013)."Ghulam Azam Deserves death, gets 90 years".The Daily Star.Retrieved20 October2013.
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  15. ^"Bangladesh: Resist pressure to push for hasty death sentences at war crimes Tribunal"(PDF).Amnesty International. 22 February 2013.
  16. ^Sabir, Mustafa (21 January 2013)."Bangladesh's watershed war crimes moment".BBC News.
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  18. ^abThe Wall Street Journal,27 July 1971; quoted in the bookMuldhara 71by Moidul Hasan
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  24. ^abHashmi, Taj I. (2000).Women and Islam in Bangladesh: Beyond Subjection and Tyranny.Palgrave Macmillan. p. 189.ISBN978-0-312-22219-2.He finally won back his citizenship on 22 June 1994, as decided by the Supreme Court... It may be mentioned here that he had been living in Bangladesh from 1978 to 1994 as a Pakistani national without any valid visa to stay in Bangladesh.
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  45. ^Daily Purbodesh.23 April 1971.{{cite news}}:Missing or empty|title=(help)
  46. ^পাকিস্তানের প্রতি চীনের দৃঢ় সমর্থন রয়েছে[China fully supports Pakistan].The Daily Sangram(in Bengali). 13 April 1971.
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  48. ^ab"History speaks up – Julfikar Ali Manik and Emran Hossain".The Daily Star.27 October 2007.
  49. ^abলাহোরে সাংবাদিক সম্মেলনে অধ্যাপক গোলাম আযম[Prof. Ghulam Azam in a conference at Lahore].Daily Sangram(in Bengali). 21 June 1971.
  50. ^abমাওলানা মাদানীর শাহাদত মুসলমানদের সচেতন করার জন্য যথেষ্ট – গোলাম আযম.Daily Sangram(in Bengali). 12 August 1971.
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  64. ^স্বামীর জীবন নিয়ে আমি শঙ্কিত: সৈয়দা আফিফা আযম[I am in fear of my husband's life: Syeda Afifa Azam].Daily Naya Diganta(in Bengali). 27 January 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 30 January 2012.
  65. ^অধ্যাপক গোলাম আযমের[Professor Ghulam Azam has lost 3 kg in weight].The Daily Sangram(in Bengali). 5 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2013.
  66. ^গোলাম আযমকে 'প্রিজন সেল'এ মানসিকভাবে নির্যাতন করা হচ্ছে -মিসেস আফিফা আযম[Ghulam Azam is being mentally tortured in his prison cell – Mrs Afifa Azam].The Daily Sangram(in Bengali). 12 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2013.Azam is held in solitary confinement and is allowed a visit of 30 minutes per week by 3 close relatives only. Applications for visits are required to be made in advance and require approval.
  67. ^"Wife, son meet Ghulam Azam".The Daily Star.21 January 2012.
  68. ^"Ghulam Azam synonymous with Hitler: Sultana Kamal".UNB.13 September 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2012.Retrieved14 March2013.
  69. ^"13 Sep 2012: Azam 3rd witness cross exam day 3".David Bergman. 20 November 2012.Retrieved9 May2013.
  70. ^* "Jamaat-e-Islami guru Ghulam Azam's role during the Liberation War 'was quite like Adolf Hitler in Second World War Germany'.""Azam was like Hitler in Germany".Bdnews24.com.3 March 2013.
    • "Next on the list is Ghulam Azam, the head of Jamaat in 1971, accused of overseeing the setting up of pro-Pakistani death squads manned by the party's student wing. The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Mr Azam, whom it likened, in its closing arguments this week, to Adolf Hitler.""Unrest in Bangladesh: A nation divided".The Economist.9 March 2013.Retrieved14 March2013.
    • "War crimes prosecutors on Sunday said that in 1971 Ghulam Azam did in Bangladesh what Adolf Hitler did in Germany during the Second World War. 'Ghulam Azam was the Hitler in Bangladesh under Pakistan army occupation in 1971', said prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum.""Ghulam Azam was Hitler of 1971: prosecution".New Age.Dhaka. 4 March 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 19 December 2013.Retrieved14 March2013.
  71. ^الإتحاد يندد بإعتقال الحكومة البنغالية المفكرين الإسلاميين ويطالب بإطلاق سراحهم[The Union condemns the arrest of Professor Ghulam Azam and other thinkers by the Bangladeshi government].International Union of Muslim Scholars(in Arabic). 18 January 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2014.
  72. ^"Detention of accused unlawful".The Daily Star.16 February 2012.
  73. ^Adams, Brad (1 February 2013)."Bangladesh: Government Backtracks on Rights".Human Rights Watch.
  74. ^Al-Ghamdi, Ali (23 July 2013)."Unjust verdict against Ghulam Azam".Saudi Gazette.Retrieved26 April2023.
  75. ^"Jamaat rejects judgment".The Daily Star.16 July 2013.
  76. ^গোলাম আযমের প্রত্যক্ষ সম্পৃক্ততা প্রমাণ হয়নি: ফজলে কবির[Ghulam Azam was evidence of the involvement: Fazle Kabir].Daily Amardesh(in Bengali). 15 July 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2013.
  77. ^"Amar Desh stops publication for now".The Daily Star.16 April 2013.
  78. ^"War criminal Golam Azam dies".Daily Prothom Alo.23 October 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2014.Retrieved23 October2014.
  79. ^Julfikar Ali Manik, Moniruzzaman Uzzal (23 October 2014)."War criminal Ghulam Azam dies".Dhaka Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon 16 September 2016.Retrieved7 September2016.
  80. ^"Ghulam Azam on life support".Bdnews24.com.23 October 2014.
  81. ^"Bangladesh police accused of abducting ex-JI chief's son".Dawn.AFP. 24 August 2016.Retrieved26 April2023.
  82. ^"Secret prisoners of Dhaka".Netra News — নেত্র নিউজ.14 August 2022.Retrieved26 April2023.
  83. ^প্রতিনিধি, বিশেষ (6 August 2024)."আট বছর পর ফিরলেন আমান আযমী ও আরমান".Prothomalo(in Bengali).Retrieved18 August2024.
Political offices
Preceded by
Maulana Abdur Raheem
Ameer ofJamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh
1969–2000
Succeeded by