Probe agency finds evidence against 14 Bagerhat men

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday said to have found evidence against 14 Bagerhat men over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

They were “involved” in killing of 21 people, raping of four women, abduction, confinement and torture of two persons and looting and arson attack on some 50 houses at Kachua and Morrelganj upazila in the district, Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the agency, said at a press conference at the agency's Dhanmondi office.

All the accused are from Kachua, Morrelganj and Bagerhat Sadar upazila who were involved with Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army, Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of the agency said. They were involved either with Muslim League or Jamaat-e-Islami in 1971, and one but all are “supporters” of Jamaat now, he said.

The accused are Khan Ashraf Ali, 65; Khan Akram Hossain, 60; Sultan Ali Khan, 68; Rustam Ali Mollah, 70; Edris Ali Mollah, 64; Moksed Ali Didar, 83; Sheikh Mohammad Ukil Uddin, 62; Sheikh Edris Ali, 61; Rafiqul Islam alias Babul, 64; Moniruzzaman Hawlader, 69; Hashem Ali Sheikh, 79; Azhar Ali Sikder, 64; Mokbul Mollah, 79; and Abdul Ali Mollah, 65.

Of them, Akram, Erdis Ali Mollah, Ukil Uddin and Mokbul Mollah are in custody while the rest are absconding, he said.

Later on the day, Helal Uddin, the investigation officer of the case, handed over the probe report and other documents to the Chief Prosecutor Office of the tribunal. Prosecutor Sabina Yesmin Khan Munni said they will now scrutinise the documents, and if found satisfactory, they will press charges to the tribunal.

They were involved with at least seven incidents of crimes, Sanaul said. The charges are: killing of 10 people, injuring two others and looting of 40 to 50 houses in Capri and Teligati village; killing of four people at Hajrakhali and Boikhali village; killing of two unarmed freedom fighters in Dhuligati village; killing of four people of Bilkul and Bichat village; killing on one man of Bilkul village; rape of four women for over a month.

Sanaul also said they are conducting investigation against two former Bangalee army officials who allegedly worked for the Pakistan army and committed crimes during the Liberation War.

Of them, Muhamed Shahidullah, 72, an alleged commander of a Pakistani army camp in Comilla in 1971, was arrested last year and now in jail. He however, declined to give details of the other accused.

Meanwhile, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday directed the prosecution to submit an investigation report on February 23, if have any, in a case filed against five Mymensingh men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War.

Yesterday was fixed for submitting the investigation report. But Rezia Sultana Chaman told the tribunal that the investigation officer of the case had found the involvement of six more persons in the crimes, which required one more month to submit the report. The tribunal allowed her prayer.

The six accused are: Akkel Ali alias Raisuddin Azadi, Khalilur Rahman Meer, Abul Kalam alias Samsuzzaman, Mohammad Abdullah, Abdul Malek Akanda alias Abul Hossain under Pagla Police Station in Mymensingh are now in jail. Meanwhile, the tribunal rejected a bail prayer of Abul Kalam, which his lawyer filed mainly on the ground of old age.