Abdur Razzaq (Jamaat-e-Islami politician)
Abdur Razzaq (born 1949) is a Bangladeshi barrister and former Assistant Secretary General of political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.[1] He was the chief defence counsel at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal until the end of 2013, when he left Dhaka for London.[2] There he practices at the English Bar.[3]
Abdur Razzaq | |
---|---|
Born | 1949 (age 73–74) |
Nationality | Bangladeshi, British |
Occupation | Lawyer |
Known for | Chief defence counsel at ICT |
International Crimes Tribunal
Razzaq was the chief defence counsel at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, where Jamaat leaders, in particular, were indicted.[1] Among those defended by Razzaq were former leader Ghulam Azam, leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, and Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah.[4][5][6][7][8] Razzaq allegedly was harassed in various ways by government officials to make it difficult for him to perform his professional duties.[2][9][10] Human Rights Watch called for him to be allowed to conduct a full and fair defence without hindrance.[11][12]
Resigned
Razzaq resigned from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami's Assistant Secretary General in an e-mail message from London on February 15, 2019. In his resignation message, suggesting that he apologize for his role in the war of liberation, he said that for two decades he had tried to convince Jamaat that there should be open discussion on the role of the party in the state and that the party should apologize for the role of Jamat at that time. Apart from Jamat, his resignation also sparked widespread discussion in Bangladesh politics. Following him, some of the top leaders resigned from the party.[13][14]
References
- Ahmed, Tanim (January 4, 2013). "'Sabotaging? Oh no, no way'". bdnews24.com (Interview). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
- Niloy, Suliman (August 10, 2014). "Jamaat's Barrister Abdur Razzaq's return being stalled". bdnews24.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- Razzaq, Abdur (March 3, 2016). "Citizens are also responsible for Bangladesh violence". Al Jazeera (Opinion). Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "War crimes charges accepted". The Daily Star. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Nizami, Mollah indicted". The Daily Star. May 29, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "ICT order today on witnesses' statements". The Daily Star. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Prosecution failed to prove: Defence". The Daily Star. May 31, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Mollah to seek review: Defence". The Daily Star. September 17, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Cops look for bombs at Razzaq's chamber". The Daily Star. July 6, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Govt harassing chief defence counsel". The Daily Star. October 16, 2012.
- "Bangladesh: Stop Harassment of Defense at War Tribunal". Human Rights Watch. November 2, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Bangladesh: End Harassment of War Crimes Defense Counsel". Human Rights Watch. October 17, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
- "Barrister Abdur Razzaq resigns from Jamaat". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
- "Jamaat faces heat over '71 apology". The Daily Star. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2019-08-15.