K. M. Aminul Haque
KM Aminul Haque | |
|---|---|
| কে এম আমিনুল হক | |
| Nationality | Bangladeshi |
| Other names | Rajab Ali |
| Known for | Convicted war criminal |
| Criminal charge | Crimes against humanity |
| Criminal penalty | Death sentence |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
KM Aminul Haque (also known as Rajab Ali) is a Bangladeshi national who was convicted of crimes against humanity committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971.[1][2] He was sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal on 5 November 2018.[3][2]
Early life
Haque was born in Austagram Upazila, Kishoreganj District.[1] He was a student of the Gurudayal Government College.[1] He was an activist of East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.[1]
Career
During the Bangladesh Liberation War, Haque was a local commander of the paramilitary group Al-Badr in the then Kishoreganj Sub-Division (now District).[4] According to tribunal findings, he was involved in murder, looting, arson, torture, and kidnapping in various areas, including Kishoreganj, Bhairab, Brahmanbaria, and Habiganj.[4]
Haque reportedly received arms training at a Pakistan Army camp in Bhairab in 1971, after which he led a local unit of Al-Badr.[4] He and his associates were found responsible for the killing of numerous civilians, including members of the Hindu community and Muslims.[4] According to the prosecutors, 43 Hindus were killed in a raid on Krishnapur village in which he commanded along with Liakat.[5]
After the Independence of Bangladesh, Haque surrendered to the Joint Forces on 18 December 1971.[4] He was initially charged under the Bangladesh Collaborators Act in 1972 and sentenced to 40 years of imprisonment.[4] In 1981, he was released through a clemency by President Ziaur Rahman and later moved abroad, reportedly to a Middle Eastern country and Pakistan.[4] He wrote Al-Badr Bolchhi (I am Al-Badr speaking) about his work in the Al-Badr paramilitary.[5] He also wrote Dui Polashi, Dui Mir Jafa.[2] Both books spoke against the Bangladesh Liberation War and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.[2] He opened a medicine shop in Elephant Road, Dhaka.[1]
Haque contested the General Election June 1996 as a candidate of the Islamic Sashantantrik Andolan from Kishoreganj-5.[6] He finished 7th with 568 votes and lost to Mohammad Abdul Hamid of the Awami League who received 54,073.[6] He returned to Dhaka in 1997.[4] He last visited Pakistan in 2000.[5]
In 2014, the International Crimes Tribunal began investigating Haque’s activities during the war.[4] He went into hiding in Dhanmondi and Kalabagan with his wife.[5] They were financed by their daughters living outside of Bangladesh.[5] He was indicted in 2015 and sentenced to death in 2018.[7][4] He evaded arrest and remained a fugitive until 2 July 2022, when the Rapid Action Battalion arrested him in the Kalabagan area of Dhaka.[8][4]
Personal life
Haque is married and has two daughters.[5] His daughters live in Singapore and Australia.[5]
References
- ^ a b c d e Khan, Anwar A. "Down Memory Lane: The Devils of 1971 Bangladesh War | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ a b c d "Fugitive death row convict held in city". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Condemned war criminal held in Dhaka". New Age. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Tale of a terrible Al-Badr Commander of 1971 in Bangladesh | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Fugitive sentenced to death for war crimes in 1971 held in city -". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ a b "Parliament Election Result of 1991,1996,2001Bangladesh Election Information and Statistics". web.archive.org. 2008-12-28. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
- ^ "Two to die for genocide". New Age. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "Rab arrests fugitive death-row convict Rajab Ali from Dhaka". The Daily Star. 3 July 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2025.