Ex-JP MP, 11 others sued for war crimes

Son of a martyr yesterday filed a case against 12 people including a former Jatiya Party lawmaker for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.

Ruhul Amin, 62, son of martyred freedom fighter Yunus Ali Inu of Kakchar in Trishal upazila, filed the case with the Cognisance Court No. 3 of Senior Judicial Magistrate Abeda Sultana.

The court took the case into cognisance, recorded deposition of the complainant and sent the case documents to the International Crimes Tribunal for further proceedings, insiders said.

The accused are Anisur Rahman Manik, 70, ex-JP lawmaker from Trishal, his brothers Muklesur Rahman Mukul, 65, and Saidur Rahman Ratan, 63, Shamsul Haque Bachchu, 73, of Dewpara Kanihari, Shamsul Haque Fakir, 73, Nurul Haque Fakir, 70, Sultan Ahmed Fakir, 66, and Manik Munshi, 80, of Boholikanda, Moulavi Mohammad Mofazzol of Taltola, Md Ibrahim, 72, Md Khadem, 70, of Kushtia in Trishal and Abdul Karim of Mymensingh Sadar.

Manik became a member of parliament with Jatiya Party ticket from Trishal in 1988, JP sources confirmed.

Earlier in October this year, a case was filed against Manik, Mukul, Ratan, Sultan and Shamsul for allegedly committing war crimes in 1971.

According to yesterday's case documents, the accused were involved with Muslim League, an anti-liberation party, and subsequently got involved with the Peace Committees and Razakar force in Trishal upazila under the leadership of Abdul Khaleque Sarker.

They helped the Pakistani army in the area and themselves committed crimes including killings, reads the case.

On August 14, 1971, the accused led by Anisur Rahman Manik picked up the father of the complainant and took him to a torture cell set up at Ahmedabad High School ground in Trishal.

He was shot to death the following day and was buried behind the camp like many other martyred freedom fighters, alleged the complainant.

Advocates Pijush Kanti Sarker, Shafiqul Islam, Sadia Afsana Rima and Moazzem Hossain Babul moved for the complainant.

Contacted, accused Saidur Rahman Ratan denied his involvement in war crimes saying, “All the allegations are totally baseless, motivated and fabricated to tarnish our social and personal images.”

Claiming that he was a class VI student in 1971, Ratan, also a local BNP leader, said he was elected chairman of Kanihari Union Parishad in Trishal twice. A vested quarter is trying to keep him away from next year's polls, he alleged.

He said his brother Manik was physically sick and unable to talk to reporters.

Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the International Crimes Tribunal's investigation agency, told The Daily Star that they would carry out a preliminary probe into the allegations upon receiving the case documents.

They would start a formal investigation if they found preliminary evidence, he added.

Incidentally, MA Hannan, the incumbent Jatiya Party lawmaker from Trishal, is behind bars in connection with a war crimes case.