Evidence found against ex-AL leader, 2 others

The Investigation agency of International Crimes Tribunal yesterday said to have found evidence against three Habiganj men including a former upazila level Awami League leader over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

They were “involved” in an act of genocide, killing, rape, abduction, torture and arson, Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the agency, said at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office.

In five incidents, they killed 17 people, abducted and tortured 30, raped six women and torched 25 houses in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj, he added.

The accused are Abul Khair Golap alias Golap Mia, 66, who was president of Nabiganj AL upazila unit from 2013-16, Jamal Uddin, 65, and Giasuddin Ahmad, 70.

Golap and Jamal are now in jail while Giasuddin is yet to be arrested and believed to in London, Hannan said.

Later in the day, Nur Hossain, investigation office of the case, handed over the probe report and other documents to the Chief Prosecutor Office.

Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman said they will now sought three months time from the tribunal to scrutinise the documents. And, if found satisfactory, they will press charges against the accused for initiating a trial.

Hannan said Golap and his father late Matiur Rahman was supporters of the Convention Muslim League. And in 1971, Golap was Razakar commander of Gaznaipur Union under Nabiganj Police Station and his father was a member of the union's Peace Committee.

Convention Muslim League, Razakar Bahini and Peace Committee -- all worked against the Liberation War.

After the Liberation War, Golap was elected as chairman of Gaznapur Union Parishad and in 2013, president of Nabiganj upazila AL, Hannan said.

In last Union Parishad election in 2016, he contested as an independent candidate and was defeated, Hannan said. Local Awami League wrote to the central committee to expel him from the party.

Jamal Uddin too was a supporter of Convention Muslim League and a close associate of Golap, Hannan said, adding that Jamal is a supporter of BNP now.

Giasuddin was the convener of Gaznaipur Union Peace Committee in 1971, and as a supporter of the Convention Muslim League, he played a key role in forming Razakar Bahini and Peace Committee in the union, Hannan said.

Now involved with Jamaat-e-Islami, Gias fled to London after investigation into the case started in February 16, 2016, said Hannan.

Hannan Khan said a total of 31 cases are now at investigation level while 28 cases are pending before the lone tribunal.

But disposal rate of the cases is slow because it is not possible for a single tribunal to dispose of more than four to five cases in a year, he said.

The number of tribunal has to be increased to dispose of all the pending cases, he added.