Subhan's trial at next stage
War crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan steps into next stage as the defence yesterday completed cross-examining the last prosecution witness at the International Crimes Tribunal-2.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan fixed October 15 for the defence to produce their witnesses.
During cross-examination of Noor Hossain, also the second investigation officer in the case, defence counsel Mizanul Islam made a suggestion that Subhan was not involved in the alleged charges brought against him.
Noor, the 31st prosecution witness, rejected the suggestion.
The defence also suggested that Noor had submitted untrue statement in the “concocted” case by abusing government power, showing intimidation and temptation.
The IO reiterated, “It's not true.”
Mizanul asked Noor when he had taken the decision to visit different spots. The witness replied that he had gone to Pabna on receiving information and visited the spots he felt necessary during investigation.
The defence counsel also asked him if he had got any information that Jamaat began its organisational activities in Pabna in 1964.
“I got the information from Moulana Subhan during his interrogation at a safe home,” he said.
Earlier on December 31, 2013, Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdus Subhan was charged for involvement in genocide of unarmed people along with looting, setting fire to houses and complicity to commit crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
He, however, denies his involvement in those crimes.
SIRAJUL, AKRAM, LATIF
CHARGE HEARING
The prosecution yesterday prayed to the International Crimes Tribunal-1 to frame eight charges brought against Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master, Khan Akram Hossain, and Abdul Latif Talukdar for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide in Bagerhat during the war in 1971.
Prosecutor Syed Sayedul Haque Suman read out the charges and excerpted relevant portions of witnesses' testimony before the tribunal.
The prosecutor also prayed to the tribunal to frame command responsibility against Sirajul, who, according to the prosecution, was the most notorious among the three and had led crimes against humanity.
Of the eight charges, four are brought against Sirajul for killing about 666 people, two against all of them for killing 47 and two against Khan Akram and Abdul Latif for converting 200 Hindus and killing a person.
According to the prosecution, Sirajul on May 13, 1971 was involved in the killing of 40 to 50 Hindus at Ranjitpur in the district. Their houses were also plundered.
On May 21, 1971, an armed group killed around 600 to 700 Hindus when several thousand of the community gathered at Kalimandir in Dakra of Rampal in order to go to refugee camps in India.
Nineteen civilians of Besorgati and Kandapara under Bagerhat Sadar were detained, tortured and killed on June 18, 1971. Sirajul was found to have been involved in the killings, said Sayedul Haque.
After his submission, state-appointed defence counsel Mohammad Abul Hasan on behalf of Sirjaul made counter argument claiming his client was innocent.
On the other side, defence counsel for Latif and Akram prayed to the tribunal for more time and the tribunal fixed October 12 for hearing.
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