Evidence found against 2 more

The International Crimes Tribunal's investigation agency yesterday said to have found evidence over the alleged involvement of two persons in war crimes committed in Kishoreganj during the 1971 Liberation War.

Syed Mohammad Hussain alias Hossain, 64, and Muhammad Moslem Pradhan, 66, were involved in the killing of at least 63 people in Nikli and Kishoreganj sadar upazilas, the agency's coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan told journalists at its Dhanmondi office.

They were also allegedly involved in the abduction and confinement of at least 11 people and looting and torching of at least 250 houses there between mid-August and November 26, he said.

Hussain, younger brother of convicted war criminal Syed Hasan Ali, who was tried in absentia, fled to Malaysia on May 21 last year and the investigations began on November 13, said Sanaul Huq, a senior member of the agency.

Interpol has already issued a red notice and talked to the Malaysian police to bring him back, he said.

Moslem is now in jail on being arrested on July 8 this year after International Crimes Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against them, he added.

The agency will submit the probe reports, witnesses' statements and other documents to the prosecution today. The prosecutors will scrutinise those and, if satisfied, press formal charges to initiate trial. The case's investigation officer, Hari Debnath, told The Daily Star that Hussain was originally from Machihata village (Pir Bari) in Brahmanbaria sadar upazila but had been living with his family in Kishoreganj sadar upazila since 1936 as his father worked there.

Hussain's father Syed Musleh Uddin was the vice-president of the East Pakistan unit of Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) and chairman of the Peace Committee in Kishoreganj sub-division in 1971, he said.

Both the PDP and the Peace Committee worked against Bangladesh's liberation.

Hussain was the commander of the Razakar Bahini in Nikli and known as “Razakarer Daroga” while Hasan that of Tarail upazila in 1971. Moslem was a Razakar member and Hussain's associate, he added.

CHARGES

Killing of 35 people and torture of four others in Nikli between mid-August and September 24; abduction and torture of four people in Nikli between September 2 and October 19; killing of 26 people in Nikli on September 6; abduction and torture of seven people in Nikli from September 21 to 24; abduction and killing of a freedom fighter in Nikli on October 19; and killing of a freedom fighter in Kishoreganj sadar upazila on November 26.

MORE PROBE REPORTS

Hannan said the agency so far completed investigations in 30 cases since its inception in March 2010 and was hoping to complete that in four or five cases within this year.

He said they would hold a press conference today to announce their findings in another case.

On progress in the case against Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Hannan and four others, Sanaul said, “It (investigation) is at the final stage.”