Charges filed against 8 of Mymensingh, Jamalpur

The prosecution yesterday pressed eight specific charges against eight men from Mymensingh and Jamalpur for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Prosecutor Abul Kalam told The Daily Star that he submitted the formal charges, statements of witnesses and other documents to International Crimes Tribunal-1 through its registrar office in the afternoon.

Registrar Shahidul Alam Jhinuk said they sent the formal charges and other documents to the tribunal. The case's proceedings will continue on September 18.

The accused are Rezaul Hauqe alias Akkas Moulvi, 65, and Badaruzzaman alias Chand Kazi, 65, of Muktagachha upazila in Mymensingh and ABM Yunus Ali, 65, his brother AKM Yusuf Ali alias Yusuf Alam, 60, Omar Faruk alias Omar Ali, 70, Nasiruddin alias Kalu, 64, AKM Belayet Hossain, 64, and Ismali Hossain, 65, of Jamalpur sadar upazila.

Rezaul, Yunus, Yusuf and Omar Faruk are now in jail while the rest on the run.

The tribunal's investigation agency on May 4 said to have found evidence against the eight men. It handed over the case documents to the prosecution the following day.

According to the agency, Badruzzaman was a local Razakar commander while the others were involved with Al-Badr Bahini.

The crimes include torture and killing of three people of Malatipur Pathalia village on May 13; killing of five cobblers from Chechua Kurigram on June 27 and killing class-VIII student Ahmmad Ali of Subarnakhila village on August 5 for chanting Joy Bangla slogan.

The others are over killing of seven people of Kejaikanda Konagaon on August 5; brutal torture of two freedom fighters and their disappearance on November 12 and torture of one Abdul Latif, a freedom fighter's brother, and torching of his house on November 12.

The remaining incidents are the killing of Azizur Rahman on November 20 for assisting freedom fighters; and killing of doctor Anil Kumar Singha on November 26.