Abul Kalam Azad (politician) - Revision history

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	{{short description\|Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami politician}}		{{short description\|Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami politician}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=September ~~2014~~}}		{{EngvarB\|date=September 2022}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=September ~~2014~~}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2022}}
	{{infobox person		{{infobox person
	\| name = Abul Kalam Azad		\| name = Abul Kalam Azad
	\| image =		\| image =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date ~~and age\|df=y~~\|1947\|03\|05}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1947\|03\|05}}
	\| death_date =		\| death_date =
	\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Faridpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Bangladesh]])		\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Faridpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Bangladesh]])\|
	\| }}		}}
	'''Abul Kalam Azad''' (born 5 March 1947) is a former [[Bangladeshi]] politician of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami\|Jamaat-e-Islami]], [[Televangelism\|televangelist]] and convicted [[war criminal]] of the [[Bangladesh liberation war]].<ref name=ibn_live>{{cite news\|title=Bangladesh court gives death penalty to 1971 war criminal\|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124081840/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=24 January 2013\|newspaper=[[IBN Live]]\|date=21 January 2013\|access-date=23 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref name=Azad_flees>{{cite news \|date=10 April 2012 \|title=Azad flees to India \|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=229714 \|work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)\|The Daily Star]] \|access-date=21 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref name="ABC News" />		'''Abul Kalam Azad''' (born 5 March 1947) was a former [[Bangladeshi]] politician of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami\|Jamaat-e-Islami]], [[Televangelism\|televangelist]] and convicted [[war criminal]] of the [[Bangladesh liberation war]].<ref name=ibn_live>{{cite news\|title=Bangladesh court gives death penalty to 1971 war criminal\|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124081840/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=24 January 2013\|newspaper=[[IBN Live]]\|date=21 January 2013\|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref><ref name=Azad_flees>{{cite news \|date=10 April 2012 \|title=Azad flees to India \|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=229714 \|work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)\|The Daily Star]] \|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="ABC News" />

	He was the first of nine prominent Jamaat-e-Islami members accused of war crimes by the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)\|International Crimes Tribunal-2]] of Bangladesh to be convicted for [[crimes against humanity]], including murder and rape.<ref name=Kalam_indicted>{{cite news \|title=Abul Kalam indicted \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=256293 \|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)\|The Daily Star]] \|date=5 November 2012 \|access-date=21 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted">{{cite news\|title=Bachchu 'Rajakar' indicted \|url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 \|newspaper=Banglanews24.com \|date=4 November 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105072637/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 \|archivedate=5 November 2013 }}</ref> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to death by [[hanging]] for his crimes.<ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite news \|title=It's India against Lanka in final \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44161 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|agency=Agence France-Presse \|date=4 July ~~2008~~}}</ref><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes">{{cite news \|title=Azad gets death for war crimes \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/icts-death-penalty-for-bachchu-razakar \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Maiden war crimes verdict 'Bachchu razakar' to be hanged \|url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 \|newspaper=Banglanews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324025239/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 \|archive-date=24 March 2013 }}</ref>		He was the first of nine prominent Jamaat-e-Islami members accused of war crimes by the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)\|International Crimes Tribunal-2]] of Bangladesh to be convicted for [[crimes against humanity]], including murder and rape.<ref name=Kalam_indicted>{{cite news \|title=Abul Kalam indicted \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=256293 \|newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)\|The Daily Star]] \|date=5 November 2012 \|access-date=21 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted">{{cite news\|title=Bachchu 'Rajakar' indicted \|url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 \|newspaper=Banglanews24.com \|date=4 November 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105072637/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 \|archivedate=5 November 2013 }}</ref> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to death by [[hanging]] for his crimes.<ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite news \|title=It's India against Lanka in final \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44161 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|agency=Agence France-Presse \|date=4 July 2022}}</ref><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes">{{cite news \|title=Azad gets death for war crimes \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/icts-death-penalty-for-bachchu-razakar \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Maiden war crimes verdict 'Bachchu razakar' to be hanged \|url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 \|newspaper=Banglanews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2013 \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324025239/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 \|archive-date=24 March 2013 }}</ref>

	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
	Abul Kalam Azad was born on 5 March 1947 to an impoverished farmer,<ref name=":0">{{cite web\|last1=Bodakowski\|first1=Michael\|title=A Discussion with Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman, Masjid Council-Bangladesh\|url=http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-abul-kalam-azad-chairman-masjid-council-bangladesh\|website=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs\|publisher=Georgetown University\|access-date=24 February ~~2016~~}}</ref> Abdus Salam Mia and his wife of Barakhardia village, under Saltha Police Station of [[Faridpur District]]. After attending a [[Qawmi\|qawmi madrasa]], he was a student at Rajendra College in Faridpur.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />		Abul Kalam Azad was born on 5 March 1947 to an impoverished farmer,<ref name=":0">{{cite web\|last1=Bodakowski\|first1=Michael\|title=A Discussion with Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman, Masjid Council-Bangladesh\|url=http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-abul-kalam-azad-chairman-masjid-council-bangladesh\|website=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs\|publisher=Georgetown University\|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> Abdus Salam Mia and his wife of Barakhardia village, under Saltha Police Station of [[Faridpur District]]. After attending a [[Qawmi\|qawmi madrasa]], he was a student at Rajendra College in Faridpur.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />

	== Career ==		== Career ==
	===Social activism===		===Social activism===
	In the 1980s Azad became a regular speaker at a major mosque in [[Dhaka]]. He also led an Islamic charity.<ref name="ABC News"/>		In the 1980s Azad became a regular speaker at a major mosque in [[Dhaka]]. He also led an Islamic charity.<ref name="ABC News"/>
	In 1999, he founded the MACCA, a social charity. Reflecting on its activities he said "We strongly believe that religion and development should work together to help people. We believe development work is only sustainable through religion; otherwise [[sustainable development]] is impossible."<ref name=":0" /> As part of his social activism, he involved MACCA in an awareness campaign against [[AIDS]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://chart.ukzn.ac.za/images/reseach/muslims_responding_to_aids_2.pdf \|title=Muslims Responding To AIDS: ''Mapping Muslim Organizational and Religious Responses'' \|last1=Esack \|first1=Farid \|last2=de jong \|first2=Folkert \|year=2009 \|orig-year=First published 2007 \|website=CHART \|page=87 \|access-date=28 June ~~2017~~}}</ref>		In 1999, he founded the MACCA, a social charity. Reflecting on its activities he said "We strongly believe that religion and development should work together to help people. We believe development work is only sustainable through religion; otherwise [[sustainable development]] is impossible."<ref name=":0" /> As part of his social activism, he involved MACCA in an awareness campaign against [[AIDS]].<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://chart.ukzn.ac.za/images/reseach/muslims_responding_to_aids_2.pdf \|title=Muslims Responding To AIDS: ''Mapping Muslim Organizational and Religious Responses'' \|last1=Esack \|first1=Farid \|last2=de jong \|first2=Folkert \|year=2009 \|orig-year=First published 2007 \|website=CHART \|page=87 \|access-date=28 June 2022}}</ref>

	===Televangelism===		===Televangelism===
	He anchored a TV show called ''Apnar Jiggasa (আপনার জিজ্ঞাসা)'', or ''Your Questions'' on a private TV channel in Bangladesh for several years before the trial.<ref name="ABC News">{{cite news \|title=Televangelist to hang for Bangladesh war crimes \|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-21/televangelist-sentenced-to-hang-for-bangladesh-war-crimes/4476854 \|work=[[ABC News (Australia)\|ABC News]] \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=23 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref name="bdnews1"/>		He anchored a TV show called ''Apnar Jiggasa (আপনার জিজ্ঞাসা)'', or ''Your Questions'' on a private TV channel in Bangladesh for several years before the trial.<ref name="ABC News">{{cite news \|title=Televangelist to hang for Bangladesh war crimes \|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-21/televangelist-sentenced-to-hang-for-bangladesh-war-crimes/4476854 \|work=[[ABC News (Australia)\|ABC News]] \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=23 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="bdnews1"/>

	==Controversy==		==Controversy==
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	The investigations alleged that during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, he, then known as "Bachchu", aged 24, was a close associate of [[Ali Ahsan Mujahid\|Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed]], then president of the East Pakistan ''Islami Chhatra Sangha'', the student wing of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami\|Jamaat-e-Islami]]. The prosecution alleged that before the formation of the [[Razakars (Bangladesh)\|Razakar]] paramilitary force, Azad actively aided the Pakistani army in committing criminal acts.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />		The investigations alleged that during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, he, then known as "Bachchu", aged 24, was a close associate of [[Ali Ahsan Mujahid\|Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed]], then president of the East Pakistan ''Islami Chhatra Sangha'', the student wing of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami\|Jamaat-e-Islami]]. The prosecution alleged that before the formation of the [[Razakars (Bangladesh)\|Razakar]] paramilitary force, Azad actively aided the Pakistani army in committing criminal acts.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />

	The prosecution alleged that Azad had assisted the Pakistani military as the chief of the [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)\|Al-Badr]] force in Faridpur; the members of the force were young men mostly drawn from colleges. He could speak [[Urdu]] well because he had studied in a [[madrasa]]. As a close associate of the Pakistani army, he participated in committing atrocities on civilians, including the [[Hindu]] community and pro-liberation [[Bengali people]].<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad used to decide who to be killed \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260880 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=12 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref> His defence counsel calls these allegations "false."<ref name="ABC News" />		The prosecution alleged that Azad had assisted the Pakistani military as the chief of the [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)\|Al-Badr]] force in Faridpur; the members of the force were young men mostly drawn from colleges. He could speak [[Urdu]] well because he had studied in a [[madrasa]]. As a close associate of the Pakistani army, he participated in committing atrocities on civilians, including the [[Hindu]] community and pro-liberation [[Bengali people]].<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad used to decide who to be killed \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260880 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=12 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> His defence counsel calls these allegations "false."<ref name="ABC News" />

	====In absentia trial====		====In absentia trial====
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	In 2010 the Bangladesh government established the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)\|International Crimes Tribunal]] under a 1973 act of Parliament. It has indicted nine suspects who are prominent Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and two who are [[Bangladesh National Party]] leaders. The government was responding to popular support to have the trials and settle longstanding accusations dating to the liberation war of 1971.		In 2010 the Bangladesh government established the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)\|International Crimes Tribunal]] under a 1973 act of Parliament. It has indicted nine suspects who are prominent Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and two who are [[Bangladesh National Party]] leaders. The government was responding to popular support to have the trials and settle longstanding accusations dating to the liberation war of 1971.

	The trial was held ''[[trial in absentia\|in absentia]]'' because Azad went into hiding hours before Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against him on 3 April 2012.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news \|title=Where is Bachchu Razakar? \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/where-is-bachchu-razakar \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref> He is believed to have fled to India<ref name=Azad_flees/> or Pakistan.<ref name=ibn_live/> The court appointed a defence attorney for him, Supreme Court lawyer Abdus Sukur Khan.<ref name="EcTimes">{{cite news \|title=Bangladesh court hands down death penalty to 1971 war criminal \|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bangladesh-court-hands-down-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/articleshow/18113363.cms \|work=The Economic Times \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref>		The trial was held ''[[trial in absentia\|in absentia]]'' because Azad went into hiding hours before Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against him on 3 April 2012.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news \|title=Where is Bachchu Razakar? \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/where-is-bachchu-razakar \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> He is believed to have fled to India<ref name=Azad_flees/> or Pakistan.<ref name=ibn_live/> The court appointed a defence attorney for him, Supreme Court lawyer Abdus Sukur Khan.<ref name="EcTimes">{{cite news \|title=Bangladesh court hands down death penalty to 1971 war criminal \|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bangladesh-court-hands-down-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/articleshow/18113363.cms \|work=The Economic Times \|date=21 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>

	Azad was indicted on eight counts for murder, rape and genocide. Investigators alleged that they had identified 14 people murdered by Bachchu: three were women he had raped and nine were other abducted civilians. Testimony was offered by 22 prosecution witnesses, including friends and families of the victims.<ref name="EcTimes"/> The prosecution said that Bachchu had burnt down at least five houses, looted 15, and forced at least nine Hindus to convert to Islam.<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news \|title=First war crimes verdict Monday \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/20/bachchu-razakar-verdict-monday \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=20 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad abducted, confined a girl\|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=259984 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=5 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad, his men raped 2 sisters \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260117 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=6 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad killed 2 in Faridpur \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260600 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=10 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January ~~2013~~}}</ref>		Azad was indicted on eight counts for murder, rape and genocide. Investigators alleged that they had identified 14 people murdered by Bachchu: three were women he had raped and nine were other abducted civilians. Testimony was offered by 22 prosecution witnesses, including friends and families of the victims.<ref name="EcTimes"/> The prosecution said that Bachchu had burnt down at least five houses, looted 15, and forced at least nine Hindus to convert to Islam.<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news \|title=First war crimes verdict Monday \|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/20/bachchu-razakar-verdict-monday \|newspaper=bdnews24.com \|date=20 January 2013 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad abducted, confined a girl\|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=259984 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=5 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad, his men raped 2 sisters \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260117 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=6 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news \|title=Azad killed 2 in Faridpur \|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260600 \|newspaper=The Daily Star \|date=10 December 2012 \|access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref>

	In January 2013, his trial was the first to be completed; he was convicted of war crimes, on six of eight counts, including murder of unarmed civilians and rape committed during the War.<ref name=Kalam_indicted /><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted"/> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to the death penalty.<ref name="thedailystar.net"/><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes"/>		In January 2013, his trial was the first to be completed; he was convicted of war crimes, on six of eight counts, including murder of unarmed civilians and rape committed during the War.<ref name=Kalam_indicted /><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted"/> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to the death penalty.<ref name="thedailystar.net"/><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes"/>

->Worldbruce: clean up, typo(s) fixed: On January 2013 → In January 2013

2021-09-20T00:54:16Z

clean up, typo(s) fixed: On January 2013 → In January 2013

New page

{{short description|Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{infobox person
| name = Abul Kalam Azad
| image =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1947|03|05}}
| death_date =
| birth_place = [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British Raj]] (now [[Bangladesh]])
| }}
'''Abul Kalam Azad''' (born 5 March 1947) is a former [[Bangladeshi]] politician of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]], [[Televangelism|televangelist]] and convicted [[war criminal]] of the [[Bangladesh liberation war]].<ref name=ibn_live>{{cite news|title=Bangladesh court gives death penalty to 1971 war criminal|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124081840/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bangladesh-court-gives-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/316942-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2013|newspaper=[[IBN Live]]|date=21 January 2013|access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref><ref name=Azad_flees>{{cite news |date=10 April 2012 |title=Azad flees to India |url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=229714 |work=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |access-date=21 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="ABC News" />

He was the first of nine prominent Jamaat-e-Islami members accused of war crimes by the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)|International Crimes Tribunal-2]] of Bangladesh to be convicted for [[crimes against humanity]], including murder and rape.<ref name=Kalam_indicted>{{cite news |title=Abul Kalam indicted |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=256293 |newspaper=[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] |date=5 November 2012 |access-date=21 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted">{{cite news|title=Bachchu 'Rajakar' indicted |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 |newspaper=Banglanews24.com |date=4 November 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105072637/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=ce49b7c62930aa818781c9ff64e5d84b&nttl=2012110457054 |archivedate=5 November 2013 }}</ref> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to death by [[hanging]] for his crimes.<ref name="thedailystar.net">{{cite news |title=It's India against Lanka in final |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=44161 |newspaper=The Daily Star |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=4 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes">{{cite news |title=Azad gets death for war crimes |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/icts-death-penalty-for-bachchu-razakar |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Maiden war crimes verdict 'Bachchu razakar' to be hanged |url=http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 |newspaper=Banglanews24.com |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324025239/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=59396f7414f89991d14c6fa956924bc1&nttl=2013012162452 |archive-date=24 March 2013 }}</ref>

== Early life ==
Abul Kalam Azad was born on 5 March 1947 to an impoverished farmer,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Bodakowski|first1=Michael|title=A Discussion with Abul Kalam Azad, Chairman, Masjid Council-Bangladesh|url=http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/interviews/a-discussion-with-abul-kalam-azad-chairman-masjid-council-bangladesh|website=Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs|publisher=Georgetown University|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref> Abdus Salam Mia and his wife of Barakhardia village, under Saltha Police Station of [[Faridpur District]]. After attending a [[Qawmi|qawmi madrasa]], he was a student at Rajendra College in Faridpur.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />

== Career ==
===Social activism===
In the 1980s Azad became a regular speaker at a major mosque in [[Dhaka]]. He also led an Islamic charity.<ref name="ABC News"/>
In 1999, he founded the MACCA, a social charity. Reflecting on its activities he said "We strongly believe that religion and development should work together to help people. We believe development work is only sustainable through religion; otherwise [[sustainable development]] is impossible."<ref name=":0" /> As part of his social activism, he involved MACCA in an awareness campaign against [[AIDS]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chart.ukzn.ac.za/images/reseach/muslims_responding_to_aids_2.pdf |title=Muslims Responding To AIDS: ''Mapping Muslim Organizational and Religious Responses'' |last1=Esack |first1=Farid |last2=de jong |first2=Folkert |year=2009 |orig-year=First published 2007 |website=CHART |page=87 |access-date=28 June 2017}}</ref>

===Televangelism===
He anchored a TV show called ''Apnar Jiggasa (আপনার জিজ্ঞাসা)'', or ''Your Questions'' on a private TV channel in Bangladesh for several years before the trial.<ref name="ABC News">{{cite news |title=Televangelist to hang for Bangladesh war crimes |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-21/televangelist-sentenced-to-hang-for-bangladesh-war-crimes/4476854 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=23 January 2013}}</ref><ref name="bdnews1"/>

==Controversy==
===Bangladesh Liberation War 1971===
The investigations alleged that during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, he, then known as "Bachchu", aged 24, was a close associate of [[Ali Ahsan Mujahid|Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed]], then president of the East Pakistan ''Islami Chhatra Sangha'', the student wing of the [[Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami|Jamaat-e-Islami]]. The prosecution alleged that before the formation of the [[Razakars (Bangladesh)|Razakar]] paramilitary force, Azad actively aided the Pakistani army in committing criminal acts.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" />

The prosecution alleged that Azad had assisted the Pakistani military as the chief of the [[Al-Badr (East Pakistan)|Al-Badr]] force in Faridpur; the members of the force were young men mostly drawn from colleges. He could speak [[Urdu]] well because he had studied in a [[madrasa]]. As a close associate of the Pakistani army, he participated in committing atrocities on civilians, including the [[Hindu]] community and pro-liberation [[Bengali people]].<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Azad used to decide who to be killed |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260880 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=12 December 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref> His defence counsel calls these allegations "false."<ref name="ABC News" />

====In absentia trial====
{{main|International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)}}
In 2010 the Bangladesh government established the [[International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh)|International Crimes Tribunal]] under a 1973 act of Parliament. It has indicted nine suspects who are prominent Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, and two who are [[Bangladesh National Party]] leaders. The government was responding to popular support to have the trials and settle longstanding accusations dating to the liberation war of 1971.

The trial was held ''[[trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' because Azad went into hiding hours before Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against him on 3 April 2012.<ref name="Kalam_indicted" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Where is Bachchu Razakar? |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/21/where-is-bachchu-razakar |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref> He is believed to have fled to India<ref name=Azad_flees/> or Pakistan.<ref name=ibn_live/> The court appointed a defence attorney for him, Supreme Court lawyer Abdus Sukur Khan.<ref name="EcTimes">{{cite news |title=Bangladesh court hands down death penalty to 1971 war criminal |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bangladesh-court-hands-down-death-penalty-to-1971-war-criminal/articleshow/18113363.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=21 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref>

Azad was indicted on eight counts for murder, rape and genocide. Investigators alleged that they had identified 14 people murdered by Bachchu: three were women he had raped and nine were other abducted civilians. Testimony was offered by 22 prosecution witnesses, including friends and families of the victims.<ref name="EcTimes"/> The prosecution said that Bachchu had burnt down at least five houses, looted 15, and forced at least nine Hindus to convert to Islam.<ref name="bdnews1">{{cite news |title=First war crimes verdict Monday |url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/01/20/bachchu-razakar-verdict-monday |newspaper=bdnews24.com |date=20 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Azad abducted, confined a girl|url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=259984 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=5 December 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Azad, his men raped 2 sisters |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260117 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=6 December 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Azad killed 2 in Faridpur |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=260600 |newspaper=The Daily Star |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref>

In January 2013, his trial was the first to be completed; he was convicted of war crimes, on six of eight counts, including murder of unarmed civilians and rape committed during the War.<ref name=Kalam_indicted /><ref name="Bachchu `Rajakar` indicted"/> On 21 January 2013 Azad was sentenced to the death penalty.<ref name="thedailystar.net"/><ref name="Azad gets death for war crimes"/>

==Current status==
Abul Kalam Azad is currently believed to have fled to [[India]] or [[Pakistan]].<ref name=Azad_flees/><ref name=ibn_live/> MACCA, the organisation founded by him, has disavowed him.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://masjidcouncil.org/management/|title=Management|website=MACCA|access-date=28 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214202248/http://masjidcouncil.org/management/|archive-date=14 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Islamism in Bangladesh}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Azad, Abul Kalam}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami politicians]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi people convicted of war crimes]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi prisoners sentenced to death]]
[[Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Bangladesh]]
[[Category:People sentenced to death in absentia]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi people convicted of crimes against humanity]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Sunni Muslim scholars]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam]]