Indian military, intel behind intellectuals’ killings: Parwar

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar on Sunday alleged that the killing of intellectuals during the Liberation War was part of a well-planned conspiracy involving the Indian army and intelligence agencies.

He claimed that the plan was carried out from Delhi with the intention of demoralising the nation by eliminating its finest minds—teachers, poets, writers, engineers and lawyers.

Parwar made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Dhaka City North unit, at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Farmgate on Sunday afternoon on the occasion of Martyred Intellectuals Day, according to a party press release.

He said evidence of India’s involvement, along with that of its local collaborators, could be found in the writings of prominent Indian figures and authors. 

According to him, the surrender of the Pakistani army was originally scheduled for December 14 but was delayed by two days as part of the plan, during which the killings of intellectuals were carried out.

“The intellectuals who were brutally murdered were supporters of independence, but they opposed the ideology of India and its local agents,” Parwar said.

He further alleged that even after 54 years of independence, the mystery surrounding the killings remains unresolved. No government since independence, he claimed, has taken effective steps to properly investigate the murders. 

Instead, he said, Jamaat-e-Islami has been blamed for political reasons to weaken opponents and gain political advantage.

Parwar also alleged that investigation reports into the killings were suppressed, particularly by the Awami League, and pointed to the unresolved disappearance of filmmaker Zahir Raihan, brother of martyred intellectual Shahidullah Kaiser, as another example.

Calling the situation “tragic,” he urged the formation of an independent investigation commission to uncover the truth behind the killings of the intellectuals.

The discussion was chaired by Jamaat Central Executive Council member and Dhaka Metropolitan North Ameer Mohammad Selim Uddin and moderated by Central Majlish-e-Shura member and Dhaka Metropolitan North Assistant Secretary Mahfuzur Rahman.

Among others present were Assistant Secretary General Maulana Abdul Halim; Central Executive Council members Saiful Alam Khan Milon, Mubarak Hossain; Dhaka Metropolitan North Nayeb-e-Amirs Abdur Rahman Musa and Engineer Golam Mostafa; Assistant Secretary Nazim Uddin Molla; and Central Majlish-e-Shura members Ziaul Hasan, M Ataur Rahman Sarkar, Jamal Uddin, Muhibullah and Nasir Uddin.