The struggle for justice remains unresolved. A matter that once seemed settled—the fate of war criminal ATM Azhar, whose execution appeared imminent—has been brought into question once again. What was once a definitive resolution now hangs in uncertainty, unsettling the established truth.
The shadows of 1971 persist, casting a long, mournful echo through the years. It is a haunting reminder of the horrors endured by a nation torn apart by violence, a nation whose soil was stained with the blood of the innocent. The tragedy of Bangladesh’s 1971 genocide remains etched in the collective memory of its people, a painful chapter in history that refuses to fade into oblivion.
On the night of March 25, 1971, under the brutal command of General Yahya Khan, the West Pakistani military launched Operation Searchlight—a campaign of terror aimed at crushing the growing demand for independence in what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). This marked the beginning of one of the most gruesome genocides of the 20th century. The ensuing massacre resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Bengali civilians, along with countless rapes, tortures, and disappearances, all carried out by the Pakistani military and their local collaborators—the Al-Badr, Al-Shams, Razakars, and Jamaat-e-Islami militia.
In the wake of these atrocities, the newly independent Bangladesh embarked on the arduous path to justice. In 2009, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) was established to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the brutalities of 1971. Among those prosecuted was ATM Azharul Islam, a prominent leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party and a key figure in the Al-Badr militia. In 2019, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh upheld his death sentence after convicting him of war crimes. His heinous actions during the war, including overseeing the systematic execution of over 1,400 Bengali civilians, remain a dark stain on the nation’s history.
However, on February 25, 2025, in a shocking and unexpected move, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court decided to review the case of Azhar, along with those of other convicted war criminals. This development casts a shadow over the long-awaited judicial resolution. The decision appears to be influenced by political considerations, with accusations that the current government—often accused of being under the influence of right-wing Islamist factions—has exerted pressure on the judiciary to revise its stance. This threatens to undermine the justice that survivors and families of the martyrs have desperately sought.
Azhar’s role in the genocide is undeniable. He was not merely a passive bystander but a central figure in the Al-Badr militia, which was directly responsible for some of the most brutal crimes of the 1971 war. Under his leadership, Al-Badr carried out widespread atrocities, including mass killings, rapes, and the abduction and torture of countless Bengali civilians. It is estimated that over 1,400 innocent people perished at the hands of his militia, leaving behind a legacy of pain and trauma that continues to haunt the nation.
After Bangladesh’s independence, the government took the bold step of banning Jamaat-e-Islami, recognizing the party’s complicity in the genocide. However, following the assassination of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the subsequent military coup in 1975, the ban was lifted, allowing Jamaat-e-Islami to return to political life. This marked the beginning of the party’s resurgence despite its association with the bloodshed of 1971.
In 2025, Azhar continues his audacious attempt to escape justice, presenting himself as a pious man of Islamic faith while attempting to cloak his monstrous crimes in religious sanctity. His disingenuous portrayal as a martyr and righteous man insults the memory of the millions who perished in 1971. His crimes were committed under the banner of Islam, yet they in no way reflect the true values of the faith. Those who justified their genocidal acts in the name of Islam desecrated its core tenets of peace, compassion, and justice.
The atrocities committed by the Pakistani military and their collaborators in 1971 were not isolated acts of violence but part of a coordinated, systematic campaign to eliminate the Bengali people and their desire for independence. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes—Azhar among them—must be held accountable. The long delay in delivering justice has only prolonged the suffering of survivors and the families of martyrs. Their anguish has been compounded by the lack of closure and by the continued impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators.
The legal proceedings against these war criminals have been slow, with trials taking decades to reach a conclusion. A swifter, more decisive approach would have spared the nation further pain and provided quicker justice to victims’ families. Yet, despite the delay, it is commendable that Bangladesh’s legal system has upheld the principles of justice and fairness. The world is watching to see whether this spirit of justice will continue—or whether political considerations will interfere with accountability.
Unfortunately, the current government—widely seen as a puppet regime installed by external forces such as the CIA and ISI—has been besieged by Jamaat-e-Islami mass murderers of 1971, their ideological successors, and their political allies. The ICT of Bangladesh, which was initially established to prosecute war criminals, has now been entirely subverted by these same malevolent forces, from the judiciary to the prosecution team. In such a compromised system, what hope do the families of the 1971 victims have for true justice?
The crimes of 1971 are not merely historical events; they are crimes against humanity. The perpetrators, including Azhar, must be held accountable. Their actions have left a deep scar on the collective memory of the Bengali people, and their punishment must reflect the severity of their crimes. There can be no leniency when dealing with those who committed such atrocities.
The review petition filed by Azhar and his fellow war criminals should be dismissed without delay. These men, who once stood alongside Golam Azam—one of the chief architects of the genocide—must not be allowed to escape justice. The gallows, not the courtroom, is the rightful place for them. After their executions, they should not be afforded the dignity of a proper burial, as they showed no such respect to the bodies of their victims. Their bodies should be denied the dignity they stripped from so many others in 1971.
This is the least we can do to offer some measure of solace to the families of the martyrs, who have suffered for far too long. The time for justice is now. We must not allow these criminals to escape the punishment they so justly deserve, for to do so would be to dishonor the memory of the millions of lives lost in 1971.
The struggle for justice is far from over. The legacy of the 1971 genocide continues to haunt the nation, and the fight for accountability must be pursued to its bitter end. The martyrs of 1971 deserve nothing less.
