Hamoodur Rahman Commission

Hamoodur Rahman Commission. The Hamoodur Rahman Commission was a high-level inquiry commission set up by the Government of Pakistan in 1971 to investigate the causes and circumstances of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which led to the separation of East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh. The commission was headed by Hamoodur Rahman, the then-Chief Justice of Pakistan, and included other prominent members such as Mohammad Akram, Tufail Ali Abdul Rehman, and Fazlul Qadir. The commission's report was submitted to the President of Pakistan in 1974, and it highlighted the role of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence in the Bangladesh Liberation War.

● Introduction

The Hamoodur Rahman Commission was established in the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which was fought between the Pakistan Army and the Mukti Bahini, a Bangladeshi nationalist force. The commission's primary objective was to investigate the causes and circumstances of the war, which resulted in the separation of East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh. The commission's report was based on the testimonies of over 300 witnesses, including Yahya Khan, Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan, Nurul Amin, and Abdul Motaleb. The commission's findings were widely publicized, and they highlighted the role of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence in the Bangladesh Liberation War.

● Background

The Bangladesh Liberation War was a result of the long-standing tensions between East Pakistan and West Pakistan, which were exacerbated by the Pakistan Army's Operation Searchlight in 1971. The Mukti Bahini was formed in response to the Pakistan Army's actions, and it received support from India, particularly from the Indian Army and the Research and Analysis Wing. The Bangladesh Liberation War was marked by widespread human rights abuses, including the Rape of Bangladesh and the Genocide of Bangladeshis. The Hamoodur Rahman Commission was set up to investigate these abuses and to identify those responsible. The commission's report was influenced by the testimonies of prominent Bangladeshi nationalists, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Tajuddin Ahmad, and Muhammad Mansur Ali.

● Findings and Recommendations

The Hamoodur Rahman Commission's report highlighted the role of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The commission found that the Pakistan Army had committed widespread human rights abuses, including the Rape of Bangladesh and the Genocide of Bangladeshis. The commission also found that the Inter-Services Intelligence had played a key role in the Bangladesh Liberation War, particularly in the Operation Searchlight. The commission recommended that those responsible for the human rights abuses be held accountable, and it called for the establishment of a War Crimes Tribunal to try those accused of war crimes. The commission's report was widely praised by Bangladeshi nationalists, including Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who described it as a "historic document".

● Report and Aftermath

The Hamoodur Rahman Commission's report was submitted to the President of Pakistan in 1974, but it was not made public until 2000, when it was leaked to the Indian Express. The report's publication sparked widespread outrage in Pakistan, particularly among the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence. The report's findings were widely debated, and they led to calls for the establishment of a War Crimes Tribunal to try those accused of war crimes. The Bangladesh Government established a War Crimes Tribunal in 2009, which tried several Pakistan Army officers and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for their role in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The tribunal's verdicts were widely praised by Bangladeshi nationalists, including Sheikh Hasina, who described them as a "victory for justice".

● Impact and Legacy

The Hamoodur Rahman Commission's report has had a significant impact on the Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, particularly in the aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War. The report's findings highlighted the role of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence in the war, and they led to widespread outrage in Bangladesh. The report's publication also led to calls for the establishment of a War Crimes Tribunal to try those accused of war crimes. The Bangladesh Government established a War Crimes Tribunal in 2009, which tried several Pakistan Army officers and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for their role in the Bangladesh Liberation War. The tribunal's verdicts were widely praised by Bangladeshi nationalists, including Sheikh Hasina, who described them as a "victory for justice". The Hamoodur Rahman Commission's report has also been recognized by the United Nations and the European Union as an important document in the pursuit of justice and accountability for human rights abuses. The report's legacy continues to be felt in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where it remains a powerful symbol of the struggle for justice and accountability.

Category:Commissions of Inquiry