Hasan new war crimes suspect

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday issued an arrest warrant for war crimes suspect Syed Mohammad Hasan.
Investigators are probing his alleged involvement in several crimes against humanity committed in Kishoreganj during the Liberation War.
The prosecution had sought the warrant for Hasan, 65, who was an alleged commander of Razakar force at Tarail of Kishoreganj, so that he does not influence the probe.
The investigators have already found evidence of his alleged involvement in two incidents in which three people were killed in Tarail in 1971, said prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman Badal.
The tribunal led by Justice Enayetur Rahim also ordered the prosecution to submit the investigation progress report on May 15.
In response to a query, Mokhlesur told the tribunal that the probe against Hasan began on June 6 last year.
Prosecutor Abul Kalam Azad on April 1 submitted a petition for the arrest before the tribunal through its registrar's office. He alleged that Hasan through his men was trying to influence the investigation.
According to the investigation agency, Hasan hails from Machihata village of Brahmanbaria but had been living in Tarail along with his family for many years.
His father Syed Musleh Uddin was the vice-president of Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) for East Pakistan and chairman of the Peace Committee in the then Kishoreganj sub-division in 1971.
The PDP and Peace Committee opposed the country's independence.
Hasan is not active in politics now. He was once involved with Nezam-e-Islami, another anti-liberation organisation, which was banned immediately after Bangladesh became independent but resumed its activities during the regime of late president Ziaur Rahman.
Meanwhile, the prosecution have completed cross-examining of the second defence witness in the war crimes case against Mobarak Hossain.
The tribunal yesterday adjourned the proceedings of the case until April 8 when the third defence witness is expected to defend Mobarak.
Mobarak, a former union-level leader of ruling Awami League, faces five charges of involvement in genocide, murder, abduction, confinement, torture and looting in Brahmanbaria during the war.