Staff Reporter :The Namaz-e-Janaza of former Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Ghulam Azam, who was convicted for war crimes cases, will be held today (Saturday) after Johr prayers at the north gate of Baitul Mokarram National Mosque in the capital. His son Abdullahil Amaan Azmi said, “My father will be buried at the family graveyard at Moghbazar Kazi Office Lane after the Janaza, and the body will be kept inside the ambulance in our residence until the Janaza.” Ghulam Azam died on Thursday night at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital. He was kept in a prison cell of the hospital since January 11, 2012, the day he was arrested. On July 15, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 awarded him 90 years’ imprisonment for crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.The body of Ghulam Azam was handed over to his family members on Friday morning after the autopsy at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. His son received the body and took it to their Moghbazar residence. Later, the body was kept in a refrigerated ambulance at the residence and was shown to the leaders and workers of Jamaat-e-Islami. Many activists of Jamaat-Shibir gathered in front of his residence to pay their last respects. Five sons of Ghulam Azam are now living abroad. Four of them, who are living in the UK, are now on the way to take part in the Janaza. His elder son Abdullahil Mamun Azmi, who is now staying in Turkey, is not coming. Earlier, Ghulam Azam’s lawyer Advocate Tajul Islam said that they are delaying the Janaza, as the Janaza and the burial will take place after the return of the sons and the elder son will conduct the Namaz-e-Janaza. The counsels of Ghulam Azam also sought parole of Jamaat Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami or the party Nayebe Ameer Delawar Hossain Sayedee to conduct his Namaz-e-Janaza. Tajul Islam said that Ghulam Azam had expressed his last wish that the Namaj-e-Janaza to be conducted by Nizami; If not possible, then Delawar Hossain Sayedee. He also expressed the wish to be buried beside the grave of his father. “According to his wish, we sought parole of the two leaders. If the application is not granted, one of his son will conduct the Namaz-e-Janaza, he said.Sayedee is now serving jail sentence until death for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, while Nizami was sentenced to death for his involvement in smuggling 10-truck arms in 2004. Nizami also faces war crimes charges. For this reason, different pro-liberation organisations and individuals protested the decision.
