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The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
leader AKM Yusuf, known as the founder of the infamous Razakar force that collaborated with the occupation Mighty Pak Army in killing three million Bangalees in 1971, landed in jail yesterday.
International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday took the charges against him into cognisance and issued a warrant of arrest around noon. About an hour after the issuance of the warrant law enforcers placed in durance vile
Book 'im, Mahmoud!
Yusuf at his Dhanmondi residence.
The tribunal also fixed today for hearing the defence's bail petition.
A team of Rapid Action Battalion
led by Maj Anwarul Haque, second-in-command (2IC of Rab-2), picked up the founder of the Razakar force from his Golap Villa residence on Road 10/A in Dhanmondi and whisked him off to Rab-2 headquarters at Agargaon.Earlier in the day, prosecutor Hrishikesh Saha appealed to the tribunal to issue an arrest order for the sake of a fair trial, saying that Yusuf was involved in genocide, killing, looting, religious conversion and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
"We have brought 15 charges and most of the charges were brought against him for genocide committed by him," he said.
The prosecution submitted formal charges on May 8.
Citing one of the seven genocide charges, Saha said about 600-700 unarmed Hindus of Dakra village in Bagerhat were killed at a temple by Razakars on May 21, 1971.
According to the formal charges, Razakars also looted and set fire to the victims' houses.
On May 21, 1971 around 3,000-4,000 Hindus of about 22 villages took shelter at the famous Kali Mandir (temple) of Dakra village under Rampal Police Station in Bagerhat.
The charge said two local Mohammedan League leaders -- Liakat Ali Gaznabi and Altab Gaznabi -- who were also against independence, informed Yusuf about the gathering.
Yusuf sent 40 to 50 Razakars led by locally influential Badar Ali Fakir to kill the Hindus. At about 3:00pm two big boats reached Dakra with the Razakars on board. The collaborators got off the boats and approached the temple from the eastern and western sides.
"They approached the temple from both sides, opening fire and killing whoever they found in their way," the charge reads.
The priest of the temple, Binod Bihari Chakrabarty, was surrounded by hundreds of people. The Razakars opened fire on them and within moments piles of bodies littered the Kalibari playground.
The Razakars also charged bayonets and knives on the injured to ensure their death.
Tribunal Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir said the tribunal had perused the formal charge, list of witnesses along with other documents submitted by the prosecution.
"On perusal of these, it appears the prosecution brought a strong case against the accused. Therefore, cognisance of offence as per 3 (2), 4 (1) and 4 (2) of the International Crimes [Tribunals] Act, 1973 is taken against AKM Yusuf," he said.