In its endeavors to propagate Islamic thought and to work for the cause of the Muslims around the world, JI Pakistan developed and maintained close brotherly relations with the Islamic movements and missions working in different continents and countries.
The Akhwan-al-Muslimeen (Muslim Brotherhood) in the Arab world, the movements working in the northern African countries, Hammas in Palestine, Rifah in Turkey, Hizb-e-Nehdat-e-Islami, Tajikistan, Ma'Shoomi in Indonesia, the Muslim Youth Movement and the Islamic Party of Malaysia, al To'iah-al Islamia of Kuwait and Qatar, and Al-Jamaat-e-Islamia of Lebanon, have ideological and at levels practical contacts with JI Pakistan, according to a Global Security Organization report.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami previously known as Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, or Jamaat for short, was the largest Islamic political party in Bangladesh. On August 1, 2013, the Bangladesh High Court declared the registration of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami illegal, ruling that the party is unfit to contest national elections.
Its predecessor, the party (Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan), in 1971 opposed the separation of East Pakistan to become Bangladesh. It collaborated with the Pakistan Army in its operations against Indian-backed Bengali separatists or nationalists
Upon the independence of Bangladesh in 1971, the new government banned Jamaat-e-Islami from political participation. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh, also cancelled the citizenship of Ghulam Azam, the leader of Jamaat-e-Islami who moved to Pakistan, the Middle East and the UK.
Following the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the military coup that brought Maj. Gen. Ziaur Rahman to power in Bangladesh in 1975, the ban on the Jamaat was lifted and the new party Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh was formed. Its leaders were allowed to return. Abbas Ali Khan was the acting Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.
In December 2008 general election resulted in a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Awami League Party led by Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which won 263 seats out 300. The main rival four-party alliance received only 32 seats, with the remaining four going to independent candidates.
During the 2008 general election, the Awami League pledged to try the war criminals if it takes office.
War crimes during Bangladesh's India-backed independence war against Pakistan has been a largely dormant issue under successive governments although the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act was passed in 1973 to authorize the investigation and prosecution of the persons responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under international law committed in 1971.
On March 25, 2010, the government announced the formation of a three-member judges' tribunal, a seven-member investigation agency, and a twelve-member prosecution team to hold the trials according to the ICT Act of 1973.
According to Dhaka tribune, since the International Crimes Tribunal's inception, the tribunals have delivered judgments in 34 cases against 83 war criminals. Among them, 52 were sentenced to death. Five leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami have been executed.
On February 5, 2013, Abdul Quader Mollah, assistant secretary of Jamaat, was sentenced to life imprisonment. Following mass protests, the Supreme Court overturned his life sentence and imposed the death penalty. Quader Molla was executed on December 12, 2013, in a Dhaka jail. Mollah was the first person to be put to death for events in 1971.
On February 28, 2013, Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the deputy of Jamaat, was sentenced to death. On September 17, 2014, the Bangladesh Supreme Court reduced sentence of Delwar Hossain Sayedee revising the death sentence to 'imprisonment till death'.
On May 9, 2013 Muhammad
Kamaruzzaman was given death sentence. He was hanged on April 11, 2015. Kamaruzzaman had refused to
seek clemency from Bangladesh's president.
On November 3, 2013, London-based Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, and US-based Ashrafuzzaman Khan, were sentenced to death in absentia after the court found that they were involved in the abduction and murders of 18 people--nine Dhaka University teachers, six journalists and three physicians-- in December 1971. Mueen was once chairman of the East London Mosque. He also served as Director of the Muslim Spiritual Care Provision in the UK's National Health Service. Ashraf was a US citizen now, residing in Jamaica of New York City. He was also involved with the Islamic Circle of North America.
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