Dhaka:Speakers at a seminar today alleged that the Awami League used the Rakkhi Bahini after the Liberation War to suppress opposition political parties and serve its own political interests, according to a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the remarks were made during the second session of the 'Democratic Journey Seminar Series,' organized by the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum. The session focused on 'Rakkhi Bahini and Extrajudicial Killings.'
Mohiuddin Ahmed, a writer and researcher, spoke as the keynote speaker and claimed that the killing of Siraj Sikder in January 1975 is often identified as the first extrajudicial killing in independent Bangladesh. However, he noted that this view overlooks numerous extrajudicial killings allegedly carried out by the Rakkhi Bahini since 1972.
Ahmed further alleged that the Awami League transformed the Rakkhi Bahini into a 'private militia' to persecute opposition political leaders and activists, with members of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD) being among the worst affected. He emphasized that despite political discussions, the Rakkhi Bahini should have been held accountable after 1975, but no efforts were made to pursue justice.
Nur Khan Liton, a human rights activist and former member of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances, stated that the Rakkhi Bahini subjected both men and women to severe torture, particularly in areas with strong opposition party presence.
Suhul Ahmed, another writer and researcher, called for the establishment of a truth commission to investigate these extrajudicial killings, suggesting that such a commission would help uncover the truth about killings since 1972.
Ehsan Mahmud, Director General of the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum, presided over the seminar, noting that the Rakkhi Bahini was one of the most feared institutions among ordinary people in the post-independence period, alongside BAKSAL. The seminar was attended by teachers, researchers, lawyers, students, and civil society representatives from various universities. The museum announced that subsequent sessions of the seminar series would be held regularly.