Untold Facts

Colonel Farook’s son Tarik Rahman’s Interview

Akidul Islam from Sydney: Five of the accused in the Bangabandhu murder case have been hanged. Colonel Farook Rahman is a prominent figure among them. His eldest son Tarik Rahman resides permanently in Australia. Australia is his primary address. He came here in 95’ for higher education.

Two days after Colonel Farook was hanged (30th January) at a two hour long interview in Sydney, Sayed Tarik Rahman termed his fathers hanging a Judicial murder. He was murdered politically. This was the present regimes pre planned decision. Today people are saying that having gone through a proper judicial process the verdict has been free from bias and coercion. The execution of the verdict has resulted from a free and fair process. This is all media propaganda. Awami influenced media are projecting this image. The truth is the trial did not have any legal grounds to start with. From the start to the end the trial has been politically motivated and influenced. I have been following the legal process from 96’ onwards with utmost keenness and discipline. I have consulted with lawyers both nationally and internationally. They have assured me that if the trial is fair, free from political influence and interference, then the accused can never be convicted. The parliament with only the Awami League present, whereby the Indemnity Bill was repealed had no opposition members present. Without the presence of the opposition and only based on personal whims and vendetta of the AL, a bill cannot legally be passed in parliament.

Tarik Rahman said that before the 1996 elections Sheikh Hasina pledged to the nation that she would not intervene in or prompt the judiciary regarding her father’s murder trial. There are lot of evidence to back this up. However right after coming to power she arrested leaders of the 1975 change. Only in the name of trial and for the last 13 years under the guise of different pretexts the final blow came on the 28th midnight. Keeping the world in slumber this tragic incident came to pass.

On obtaining the permission of Tarik Rahman his entire interview was recorded on tape. In related context he said, after the hanging of my father, most of the daily newspapers of the country have tried to contact me through different media sources. Everyone wanted to take an interview of me. They wanted to know what I had to say. I have not spoken to any papers as yet. At this moment we do not want our message to be printed in a manner that is not correct. He told the reporter that, after receiving your call I spoke to some of my confidantes. Even if I do not know you personally I am aware of your writings since long. Those whom I spoke to are also aware of your writing. We thought that since you have no personal inclination towards any political ideology we can talk to you. Presently we seriously lack trustworthy coverage. We want our message to be printed in the media word for word.

Colonel Farook’s son further said, after the hanging of my father, there has been a countrywide spread of rumours. The country has become a country of rumour. Residing in Australia we are hearing all kinds of news that is very untrue. Some of this is being projected in a very pre planned manner. My father’s mercy plea petition, for example. Day before the hanging it is being said that my father made a mercy plea to the President. This is also a pre programmed rumour. This kind of rumour is being spread to tarnish the image of the Colonel Farook, leader of the 1975 change. To spoil the image of my father in the eyes of the nation by showing his appeal for mercy is a kind of pre planned game. Major Bazlul Huda’s mercy plea petition was also a similar farce. Later in front of media his sister denied any mercy petition appeal from him. The same is true in case of my father.

Tarik Rahman sadly said the dirty manner in which the rumours are spread, makes me ashamed to even think about it. About my father, they are saying that he did not take a bath or seek forgiveness before his death. These rumours have no validity. One day the truth will be told. One newspaper went to the extent of even defaming his manners while he was in Jail. How low can humans become for the media to spread such derogatory messages?

Tarik Rahman with a sense of firmness said that he has at times discussed the events of 1975 with his father, after his arrest. Whenever I went to visit him in Jail, my father discussed the 1975 political change with me. He never thought that he made a mistake or committed a crime. He was not regretful of that event. He was proud and felt accomplished. He often used to tell me that the Nation will acknowledge us as National Heroes one day – that day is not very far. The Nation will testify that we did no crime.

Tarik further said that those who do not know him will not believe how much faith and confidence my father had. Even after 13 years in prison he did not lose his determination and conviction. He always looked jubilant. Every time I went to visit him he told me that this dark period shall too pass. Always hold your head up high. Never think that we have been defeated. Or lose hope. The life struggle or revolution you are in now needs to continue on. Never stop. He has inspired me and my younger brother to be dedicated to our nation. He said Country above all else. Even if you have studied abroad, you need to return to your Country. Use your knowledge and skills in the service of your Nation. We have upheld those ideals. I always feel like returning home. I have studied Airline Business management. I hold an Australian Commercial Pilot’s Licence and regularly fly aircraft here. I want to work for our Nations Airlines.

When posing a question to the Acting Chairman of the Freedom Party, Sayed Tarik Rahman, regarding an evaluation of the revolutionary event of 75, his reply was, on consultation with my father I have learnt that killing was not part of the plan. They wanted to arrest Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Mujib was a victim of cross fire.

On analysing the TRAGIC event of 15th August 75, Tarik said that my father has no blood in his hands. In his speech before the military operation he made it very clear that they were going to arrest Shiekh Mujib and put him on trial. He wanted not a killing spree but a political solution. Now the whole country knows that, on that day before the military my father made it clear that they did not liberate the country for an Autocratic, One Party dictatorial rule. All Political parties were being banned and BAKSAL established. All newspapers except for the four run by the AL Government were banned. The military budget was reduced and the politically motivated cadre the Rakhi Bahini budget increased. Arresting Sheikh Mujib and holding him in the racecourse or Presidential office these dastardly acts needed to be repealed. Upon that understanding the military went to Dhanmondi 32. It is historically true, that day they went and saluted Sheikh Mujib requesting him to go with them. We have come to arrest you. At that moment Sheikh Kamal started open firing. Startled, the military in defence started firing back. Sheikh Mujib died in the crossfire. An ordinary person analysing that event in all fairness can conclude that the killings that day were not a pre planned murder.

Tarik further said, in 1971 when the Pakistan Army went to that same address to arrest Sheikh Mujib he did not offer any resistance. There was no pushing or shoving. No arguments even. Sheikh Mujib believed that one day the Bengalis would rescue him from the Pakistan prison. The Pakistani Army cannot hold him in prison. Therefore when the Armed forces of his own country went to arrest him, why did he not have faith that his Nation would rescue him one day? The armed force cannot hold him hostage. As he did not have faith in his Nation, this tragic event unfolded. If he would have gone with the army that day, the history of Bangladesh may have been quite different today.

Sayed Tarik Rahman said about his father that he was a very patriotic man. In 75, the political change was under full control of my father. The Presidential office, Parliament and the armed forces were all under his influence. That is why the Chief of three armed forces went to the radio station to show acceptance of the revolutionaries, to welcome them. If he wanted he could have taken the power at that time. But he did not, instead he requested the politicians to run the country. I have heard from my father that even the Army chief requested him to take over power at that time.

Tarik further said all the previous governments have tried to keep my father out of the country, however no matter how much they enticed him with opportunities and benefits he still preferred not to stay abroad. Even after being aware that Awami League would be coming to power in the 96 elections, he did not flee the country. Although he was not physically involved in the killings that day, he did not apportion blame on others. He has taken full responsibility of 15th August on himself. If there was no 15th August, there would be no other political party other than BAKSAL. No more Newspapers other than the four. The Army would slowly be phased out also.

Sayed Tarik Rahman is one of the accused in the Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh bomb attack incident. In this regard when I wanted to know his opinion, he claimed that this government is so vengeful and holds such a vendetta against those who removed Sheikh Mujib that they are not even sparing the sons, daughters and relatives of the accused. However and whoever they can attack they are attacking. Those who they can frustrate and tire they are vilifying. This is a similar story. In a pre planned way they are trying to involve us in the Barrister Taposh bomb incident. The arrest of Colonel Rashid’s Daughter Mehnaz and displaying of such inhuman behaviour, goes against the acceptable norm of any civilised country.

Answering a question, Tarik said after the verdict was given we tried to commute the sentence in various ways with all out effort. We spoke to various humanitarian organisations. Personally I spoke to the Heads of State of several countries. I do not want to mention all the countries names. However we got some assurances from Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom that this verdict most likely cannot be carried out. There was International pressure on the Awami League Government in that regard. Due to that reason they did not wait even a day after the review petition was rejected and went about to carry out the hanging. Bangladesh and the whole world have witnessed a pre concocted murder.

Source: The Daily Amadershomoy, Tuesday, February 2nd 2010