In 1971, Bangladesh
was liberated by millions of lives. A group of people freed the country by struggles
and sacrifices, another group committed heinous killings and war crimes. The
first group is freedom fighter, another is war criminal. It should be required
estimation of their achievements and crimes. This is the theory of war
criminals and freedom fighters.
The war crimes
were occurred in three levels in independence war. First, on night of 25 March,
1971, Pak army attacked illegally and killed thousands of Bengalis. They killed
many intellectuals also. On that night, no Bengali collaborated with Pak army. At
the beginning of war, Pak forces committed all crimes by themselves. They were top
war criminals.
Second, during war, both Pak army and Bengali
guerrillas committed war crimes. Pak forces were assumed criminals and guerrillas
were fighters. It
is
clearly mentioned in ‘The unfinished autobiography of Bangabandhu’ by Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehena, on page -315 that, "In 1971, he
(Monayem Khan) was killed at home by an attack of guerrilla freedom fighters." The same in "The selected history of
liberation war" page-67-68, author Mahmud Iqbal mentioned that "On
14th October, 1971, the freedom fighters burned up the Siddhirgonj power house
near Dhaka. They cut off electric wires in several places. Some wireless sets
occupied. No Bengali engineer agreed to come to repair the Power House.
Pakistani military officials obliged to emigrant five Pakistani engineers to
repair the Power House. But freedom fighters let none of those five engineers
go back to Pakistan alive.” Thus, by clashes of Pak army and guerrillas, there caused
about three million martyrs and it ensured victory. These martyrs were not listed
as fighters. They might oppose country’s liberation or they were collaborators,
Razakars, Al-Badrs, As-Shams etc. So their killings were not noted war crimes.
Third, there occurred heinous killings even after victory.
The so called freedom fighters committed killings in absence of Pak forces. For
example, just after three days of victory on 19th December, 1971,
Bangabir Kader Siddiqui and his forces killed four men in broad daylight. (Watch
online video here-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep8fNT4-A9g)|).
After independence, the killers killed numerous Bengalis in such way all over
Bangladesh. For example, in Sirajganj- Asaduzzaman Siraji, saifuddin Khan
Majlis, Maulana Usman Gani, In Feni- Muhammad Ilias, Azharus Sobhan, In Satkhira-
Maulana Abdus Sattar, In Dhaka- Maulana Pir Dewan Ali, In Cox's Bazar- eminent parliamentarian
Maulvi Farid Ahmed and so many countless wise and talented men were killed by
freedom fighters.
Author Nuruzzaman Manik mentioned, “After achieving liberation in December,
1971, killing of intellectuals had been continued. For instance, Dr. Mansur Ali
(killed on Dec 21, 1971) film maker Zahir Raihan (went missing on 30 January,
1972) and journalist Golam Rahman (killed on 11 Jan, 1972). Unfortunately true
that, the killing of intellectuals is still running which has been starting
from 1971”. (Nuruzzaman Manik, ‘another hero of liberation war’ page -77, Dhaka,
Suddhashar Publishing- 2009). An arrest warrant was issued against Bangabir Kader
Siddiqui from India on charge of crimes against humanity. Later, Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman forgave him and honored by Bir Uttam title. Thus, the responsibility of post-victory
assassinations imposed illegally on absent Pak forces and their collaborators.
So,
there were two catagories of war criminals in liberation. Pak forces, the beginning
criminals of the war and freedom fighters, criminals against humanity after
victory. This is the real theory of war criminals. But it is not approved in
Bangladesh. Bangabandhu himself forgave Pakistani war criminals and honored post-victory
criminals by freedom fighter title. As a result, innocent and helpless war
affected Bengali civilians are now convicted war criminals illegally. Such as, Prof.
Golam Azam, Salah Uddin Qader Chowdhury, Maolana Delwar Hossain Sayeedi and others.
They are not war criminals at all. During war, they were as like as Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina and her husband Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah, obliged to Pak
forces only to protect themselves and their family members.
The theory of freedom
fighters is almost same. Who fought for liberation of Bangladesh, were freedom
fighters. Bangabandhu had declared their specific identities and numbers before
war started. Bangabandhu said, "The seven and half crore Bengalis will
leave their last drop of blood to liberate the country Inshallah." On 7th
March (1971), he declared, "You can never subjugate seven and half crore
Bengalis." On
10th January, 1972, Bangabandhu delivered that, “the people who were
martyrs in liberation war, who were killed by cruel Pak forces, I convey
respect to their souls. Today my country has been independent by sacrificing
millions of their lives. Today my aim has been filled up. Bangladesh is
independent today. I approach respects to farmers, labourers, students,
intellectuals, polices and all inhabitants of the country. You take my
compliments. Independence has been brought by large sacrifices. Three million Bengalis
were killed. You have laid lives and sufferred lot. You are the owner of this independence.
(Click here for online video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVSx5fbYN9M). Thus, Bangabandhu clearly declared all seven
and half crore Bengalis of 1971 as freedom fighters. This is real theory of freedom
fighters in Bangladesh. Bangabandhu did never segregate common inhabitants as
fighters, non-fighters and martyrs family. During his reigne, there was no
freedom fighter quota.
Bangabandhu initiated seventy five million freedom
fighters theory is now worthless. At present, there only two lac freedom
fighters are listed in Bangladesh. Of them, about one lac list has been taken
from the red book of India. At the beginning of the war, these listed fighters
departed to India and stayed there during war long. They are certified as Mujib
forces, the representatives of Mujibnagar government and the armed fighters
receiving training there. The rest one lac fighters were living in Bangladesh
during war. They are same as killer forces of Kader Siddiqui mentioned above
video. After victory, they started terrible terrorism and assassination in the
country. Bangabandhu
ordered them to surrender arms and join in service. They joined the services with
freedom fighter certificate. So their children and grandchildren are still in freedom
fighters quota. It proved that only two lac listed freedom fighters liberated
Bangladesh. All others than these two lac listed fighters were in opposition of
liberation. That is, Bangabandhu and all prisoners, four national leaders and about
one crore refugees, three million martyrs and two lac distorted women as well
as all seventy five million Bengalis are not listed freedom fighter although they
were in favor of independence.
Therefore, the
conventional theory of war criminals and freedom fighters of Bangladesh is paradoxical.
For it, the real freedom fighters are deprived of recognition. The main killers
and war criminals are privileged by freedom fighter quota facilities. We should
amend it and practice the true. All seventy five million Bengalis of 1971
alongwith Dr. M. A. Wazed Miah should be recognized freedom fighters and
present sixteen crore Bangladeshi should be included to their family members. Conventional
two lac freedom fighters list and quota policy should be banned. Thirty lac
martyrs and two lac distorted women should also be declared freedom fighters. Without
their sacrifice, the number of martyrs in liberation war would more than three
crore.
Advocate,
Dhaka.
