Abdul Mannan (Chandpur politician)

Abdul Mannan (died 6 February 2006)^[4] was a Bangladeshi religious leader and journalist who served as the minister for religious affairs in the cabinet of Hussain Muhammad Ershad. He was accused of being a collaborator of the Pakistan Army and was accused of war crimes during the Bangladesh Liberation War.^[5]

Abdul Mannan
আবদুল মান্নান
Minister of Religious Affairs
In office 1986 – 14 June 1988[1]
Member of Parliament for
In office 2 April 1979 – 24 March 1982
Preceded by	Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury[2]
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Member of Parliament for Chandpur-6
In office 10 July 1986 – 6 December 1990
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Alamgir Hyder Khan[3]
Personal details
Died	6 February 2006 (aged 71) Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nationality	Bangladeshi

Political career

Mannan was a general secretary of the Islamic Advisory Council and Regional Council during the administration of Ayub Khan.^{[citation needed]}

Controversies

On 29 September, under the leadership of Mannan, a group of the teachers of Madrasah met Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi. At that meeting, Mannan gave a copy of the Quran to general Niazi and stated that they are ready to support the Pakistan army to preserve the security of Pakistan and the glory of Islam.^[6]

Mannan was allegedly involved in the abduction and murder of physician AFM Alim Chowdhury.^[7]

After 1971

After independence, he became the president of the Jamiat-e-Mudarressin Bangladesh, an organisation of madrasah teachers and the founder of the Daily Inqilab, one of the country's highly circulated newspapers.^[4][8] In Saptahik Bichitra (a weekly magazine), Mannan denied that he had been a member of Peace Committee and claimed that he had not issued any statement in favor of Pakistan Army and the genocide committed by them.^[6]

In 1979, he was elected a lawmaker from Chandpur and was appointed minister by President Hussain Muhammad Ershad's cabinet.^[4][9]

Trial and release

Hotel Intercontinental and Holy Family Hospital was declared neutral zones by the government on 11 December 1971. Mannan took shelter in one of these zones.^[10]

In a report released in March 1994, a People's Inquiry Commission, identified, in addition to Ghulam Azam, eight others as the collaborators of the Al-Badr in the atrocities. Mannan was one of those identified collaborators.^[9]

Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury, wife of AFM Alim Chowdhury, alleges that Mannan was responsible for the death of her husband.^[11]

Death

Mannan died on 6 February 2006 at his Banani residence in Dhaka. His funeral was held at the Gausul Azam Mosque Complex in Mohakhali the next day where he was buried.^[4]