War crimes accused Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin has said he will not return to Bangladesh to face the International Crimes Tribunal, terming it ‘a farce’.
In an interview to Al-Jazeera’s Jonah Hull for the program ‘Talk to Al-jazeera’, he said the tribunal was a ‘joke’.When asked if he will face the tribunal to clear his name of the charges implicating him in the murder of 18 people, Mueen-Uddin said, “Well no, simply because it’s a joke and it’s a sham trial they are conducting.”
Citing reasons, he said that the international community had been critical of the trial process and an investigation by The Economist identified instances of corruption, the collision between the prosecution, investigation team and outside activists, besides ministerial interference.
“It’s a kangaroo court,” he said.
He also complained that the ICT had not furnished him with the official charges, an omission he found surprising, as he was not in hiding, and had always led an ‘open and transparent life’ in the UK, where is a ‘very respected member of the community’.
Mueen-Uddin strongly denied any involvement with war crimes, saying his political concerns were for the sovereignty of Pakistan. But, he said, he had resigned from his post, as a member of the Islami Chhatra Shangha, the student front of the Jamaat-e-Islami, because he was against the military crackdown of Mar 25, 1971.
“I stood for the unity of Pakistan. Supporting a nation’s sovereignty is one thing and getting involved in criminal activities is another. I was not involved in any criminal activities in 1971 or after. In fact, I was not a supporter of the military action.”
Mueen-Uddin, charged with killing intellectuals, said he was never a member of notorious militia, Al-Badr.
“I resigned from the political post after the military crackdown, and concentrated on my journalistic career … it is impossible to get involved in other matters when you are staff reporter of a busy newspaper.”
Jonah Hull asked if, as a reporter, he had covered incidents such as the killing intellectuals during the war.
“Well, I did not report any such thing – no one did – all that happened at the end of the war, during the last two days,” he said.
He claimed several theories were floated about the possible killers of the intellectuals after Bangladesh became independent.
Mueen Uddin fled to UK after the 1971 Liberation War.
He is accused of abduction, torture and heading a militia during the war.
He is said to have assisted Pakistani army in identifying and murdering prominent intellectuals during Bangladesh’s War of Independence.
On Jun 26 this year, Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin was indicted along with Ashrafuzzaman Khan, who is said to be living in New York.
The official charges against him say Al-Badr had been entrusted by the Pakistani military to exterminate the Bengali intelligentsia between Dec 11 and Dec 15, 1971, for they were believed to have been the brain behind the struggle for independence.
Ashrafuzzaman Khan was reportedly the Al-Badr’s chief executor and Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin the plan’s operation in charge.
The International Crimes Tribunal began his trial in absentia and brought 11 charges against him.
On Jun 26 this year, Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin was indicted along with Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
Mueen-Uddin is a director of Muslim spiritual care provision and a trustee of the charity, Muslim Aid. He also co-founded the influential Muslim Council of Britain. – bdnews2.com
