Jahanara Imam’s death anniv today

The 27th death anniversary of Shaheed Janani Jahanara Imam, who pioneered the campaign for the trial of 1971 war criminals, is being observed today (Saturday).

Jahanara relentlessly campaigned for materialisation of the spirit of the Liberation War before dying of cancer at the age of 65 in a Michigan hospital in the United States of America on June 26, 1994.

She was born on May 3, 1929 in a progressive Muslim family in Murshidabad of West Bengal in India.

Jahanara continues to be a source of inspiration for her patriotism, devotion, sacrifice and struggle.

Her son Shafi Imam Rumi fought for the independence of Bangladesh in 1971 instead of availing the opportunity of studying engineering in the USA and embraced martyrdom.

On June 21, 2012, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 indicted Jamaat secretary general Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed for killing Rumi.
Forgetting the pains she had been suffering as a throat cancer patient for long, Jahanara took the initiative to form Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and led the movement for holding the trial of the 1971 war criminals.

She also took the initiative to constitute a Gono Adalat or ‘people’s court’ which on March 26, 1992 held a mock trial of war criminals in front of the Institution of Engineers.

The people’s court found Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam guilty of war crimes, deserving death penalty.

Jahanara is also remembered for her book Ekatturer Dinguli and several other books.

Many students remember her as a teacher, especially as the headmistress of Siddheswari Girls’ High School.