USA started investigation on Ashrafuzzaman Khan

USA started investigation on the intelllectual killer Ashrafuzzaman Khan

The US government started an investigation on the Al-Badr Commander Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a war criminal of Bangladesh, the mastermind of intellectual killing of 1971. The United States Department of Justice received information of Khan's violation of US immigration law. The Criminal Division of of the U.S. Dept. of Justice said, when Ashrafuzzaman Khan applied for US visa, he concealed the fact that he was connected with Al-Badr force. Morevover he did not disclose the same fact when he applied for US citizenship and also during the time he became a US citizen. The U.S. government has requested the government of Bangladesh to provide all the relevant evidence. The Bangladesh government was asked to cooperate in verifying all the allegations against Khan.

This request was mentioned in a recent letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry. The Chief of Office of Special Investigation of the US Department of Justice Mr. Eli Rosenbaum sent the letter to Bangladesh State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Haque Tuku in last September. In response, the Bangladesh government is collecting the necessary documents.


In his letter to the Bangladesh Home Ministry Mr. Eli Rosenbaum wrote, Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Khan, a US citizen was born in Faridpur on 28th February, 1948. He was involved in crime against humanity in 1971, during Bangladesh liberation war. Ashrafuzzaman Khan was a member of the central committee of the Islamic Chhatra Sangha. He was also a key member of the Al-Badr force, where he played the role of chief execetioner. In the year 1971, this organization was directly responsible for murders, lootings, abductions and was involved in other crimes against humanity. The letter said, during the Bangladesh liberation war, Ashrafuzzaman Khan the members of his force killed Munir Chowdhury, Abul Khair, Ghyasuddin Ahmed, Rashidul Hasan, Dr. Faizul Mahi, Dr. Mohammad Murtaza and other Dhaka University teachers in Mirpur. The Al-Badr force murdered journalist A.N.M. Golam Mosafa, the editor of the newspaper Purbadesh. Because of his heinous activities of 1971, a case was filed against him on 24th September 1997 in the Ramna Thana (No. 115/1997). The letter also said, the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee (WCFFC) is collecting more information regarding the alleged killer.

The letter said, "Genocide 1971; an account of the killers and collaborators" and South Asia Tribunal (No. -23, December 30 2002) mentioned that during the end of 1971, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's personal diary found in his residence contained the names of more than twenty Dhaka University teachers and staff. Also, the diary contained the names of a few other intellectuals who were either killed or who went missing in 1971. "Genocide 1971" mentioned Jamaat-i-Islami was involved in such killings and abductions. Moreover, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin testified that Ashrafuzzaman Khan was the main killer of the seven university professors in 1971.

The letter said, the US Department of Justice requested the Bangladesh Home Ministry to provide all the documents and relevant information so the allegations against Ashrafuzzaman can be verified and the full investigation can be continued. The US Department of Justice wanted to acquire the diary of Ashrafuzzaman Khan, which he left at his residence at 35 Nakhalpara during the time he was fleeing Bangladesh. The Justice Department also wanted to receive the eyewitness account when Prubadesh editor was being abducted and the relevant original documents, Ashrafuzzaman Khan's driver Mofizuddin, cross examination or the copy of his statement, the eywitness account, the list of the 597 war criminals published by WCFFC on the 3rd April 2008, the case record and relevant information during the time case was filed against Ashrafuzzaman Khan in Ramna Thana on 24th September 1997.

The US government wanted all the documents and the eywitness account and the copies to be submitted to the regional legal official at US Embassy in Dhaka.

On November 10, 2009, Sangbad correspondent approached the spokesman of the US Embassay Harvey Sarnobitz [sic] asking his comments about this development. Mr. Sarnobitz replied, " The US government, in the past had been cooperating with Bangladesh politically and socially. This initiative is a continuation of such process". (Source: Daily Sangbad)