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Abdur Razzaq (born 1949) is a Bangladeshi barrister and former Assistant Secretary General of political party Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. He was the chief defence counsel at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal until the end of 2013, when he left Dhaka for London. There he practices at the English Bar.

International Crimes Tribunal

Razzaq was the chief defence counsel at Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal, where Jamaat leaders, in particular, were indicted. Among those defended by Razzaq were former leader Ghulam Azam, leader Motiur Rahman Nizami, executive council member Delwar Hossain Sayedee, Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, and Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Mollah. Razzaq allegedly was harassed in various ways by government officials to make it difficult for him to perform his professional duties. Human Rights Watch called for him to be allowed to conduct a full and fair defence without hindrance.

Resignation from BJI

Razzaq resigned from his position as Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General in an e-mail sent from London on February 15, 2019. In his resignation message, he said that for two decades he had tried to convince Jamaat that there should be open discussion on the role of the party in the 1971 war, and that the party should apologize for its role at that time. He also stated that he had unsuccessfully advocated for structural reforms, as well as full and effective participation of women, among other measures, in order to bring the party in line with successful and modern models used in other Muslim majority nations. Aside from within Jamaat itself, his resignation also sparked widespread discussion in Bangladesh politics. Following him, some leaders resigned from the party as well. Since then, these former leaders have come together to form an independent party called the Amar Bangladesh Party where he was appointed Chief Advisor to party later he left Amar Bangladesh Party.

References

1. ^ Ahmed, Tanim (January 4, 2013). "'Sabotaging? Oh no, no way'". bdnews24.com (Interview). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
2. ^ Niloy, Suliman (August 10, 2014). "Jamaat's Barrister Abdur Razzaq's return being stalled". bdnews24.com. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
3. Razzaq, Abdur (March 3, 2016). "Citizens are also responsible for Bangladesh violence". Al Jazeera (Opinion). Retrieved January 4, 2017.
4. "War crimes charges accepted". The Daily Star. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
5. "Nizami, Mollah indicted". The Daily Star. May 29, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
6. "ICT order today on witnesses' statements". The Daily Star. March 29, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
7. "Prosecution failed to prove: Defence". The Daily Star. May 31, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
8. "Mollah to seek review: Defence". The Daily Star. September 17, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
9. "Cops look for bombs at Razzaq's chamber". The Daily Star. July 6, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
10. "Govt harassing chief defence counsel". The Daily Star. October 16, 2012.
11. "Bangladesh: Stop Harassment of Defense at War Tribunal". Human Rights Watch. November 2, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
12. "Bangladesh: End Harassment of War Crimes Defense Counsel". Human Rights Watch. October 17, 2012. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
13. "Barrister Abdur Razzaq resigns from Jamaat". Dhaka Tribune. 2019-02-15. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
14. "Jamaat faces heat over '71 apology". The Daily Star. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2019-08-15.

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