Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972

The members of the Pakistan Muslim League, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nizam-e-Islam, Pakistan Democratic Party joined the Peace Committee and a cabinet was formed under Nurul Amin in which Abul Kashem, Nawajesh Ahmed, AKM Yousuf, Abbas Ali Khan, Maulana Ishak joined.

[6] Al-Shams and Al-Badr was also formed in order to counter the guerrilla activities of the Mukti Bahini which grew increasingly organised and militarily successful during the second half of 1971.

On this regard, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on his repatriation in Bangladesh on 10 January 1972, declared to try the collaborators along with the Pakistan Army who committed genocide and atrocities.

[citation needed] The Bangladesh Collaborators (Special Tribunals) Order, 1972 was announced to try the local war criminals.

[9] Mujib on 14 January asked the Awami League activists not to take revenge and assured that legislative measures will be taken against the collaborators in time.

[9] The implementation of the law started on 15 February when an order signed by secretary Taslimuddin Ahmed was circulated stating that 14 top collaborators have to surrender.

[11] Sa'ad Ahmed, a leader from Kushtia was sentenced life imprisonment for supporting the atrocities as an East Pakistan Central Peace Committee member and taking part in the election.

[12] Chikon Ali, a Razakar from Mirpur of Kushtia was sentenced to death on 10 June 1972, which was the first ever verdict of capital punishment under the law.

[12] An absentia trial staged under the law gave death penalty to three members of Al-Badr for the murder of prominent Professor Dr. AK Azad on 6 October 1972.

[12] A special tribunal sentenced Mokbul Hossain, Ayub Ali and Atiar Rahman to life imprisonment on the Montu murder case.

[12] 2 Al-Badr members Siddiqur Rahman and Muhammad Galib were sentenced life imprisonment on the journalist Nizamuddin murder case.

The pro-Awami League researcher Shahriar Kabir in cross examination confessed that the trials occurred under this act were never accepted by the families of the martyrs.

The Awami League leaders and activist getting order from Mujib to submit genocide data started to misusing the power.

Barrister Moinul Hossain, an Awami League backed Member of Parliament criticized the law in an article published in The Daily Ittefaq on 19 November 1972.

[7]On the other hand, this law had a provision in its section 7 which stated that the conviction against the criminals will come in effect only if the Officer in Charge of the Police of that particular area certify that as an offence.

On 23 July 1972 in an article published on Dainik Bangla some experts stated that, The tribunals are trying the crimes occurred in a certain period which was actually an emergency one.

Awami Muslim League leader Razakar Athar Ali Khan was the father of a fighter from Bagerhat who attained the gallantry award Bir Uttam for his bravery.

[18] As the second anniversary of victory in the Bangladesh War of Independence approached, most of those jailed under the Collaborators Act had been detained for nearly two years without being charged with specific crimes.

[21] The continued imprisonment of alleged collaborators and threat of legal action against those not yet arrested was increasingly viewed as an attempt to silence political opposition.

[20][22] Bangladesh also sought more favorable relations with the oil-rich Muslim Middle East in the hope that foreign aid would be forthcoming.

Dainik Bangla stated the news with the headline, "General Amnesty Declared upon the Punished Prisoners under Collaborators Act".

[24] The newspaper said, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh has declared a general mercy for the convicted and punished prisoners under the Collaborator Act.

Persons who have been imprisoned under the Collaborator Ordinance (Special Tribunal) 1972, against whom there is a warrant or those who are wanted and those who have been punished will be imposed this general mercy and soon they will be freed.

Bangabandhu has ordered the Home Ministry to take necessary steps so that these persons can get released from Jail soon and join the victory festival coming on 16th December.

The persons freed are urged to be united with spirit of victory and are requested to take the responsibility of working as a safeguard for our independence.

Muslim League leader Syed Khwaja Khairuddin, who was also the chief of the Peace Committee was freed from jail on 7 December 1973.

[27] After the fall of Mujib on 15 August 1975 and unfortunate killing of four top leaders from Bangladesh Awami League, an ordinance was declared which halted the activity under this act.

This gave the lackeys of Pakistani occupational force a complete legal protection from farther facing any kind of trial.

8 of 1972), and to provide for certain matters ancillary thereto; Now, Therefore, in pursuance of the Proclamations of 20 August 1975, and 8 November 1975, and in exercise of all powers enabling him in that behalf, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:- 1.