Published on 12:00 AM, January 24, 2014

He had control over Razakars, Al-Badrs

He had control over Razakars, Al-Badrs

2nd prosecution witness reaffirms during cross-examination

Refuting the defence's allegation during cross examination, the second prosecution witness in the war crimes case against Mir Quasem Ali yesterday reaffirmed that the Jamaat-e-Islami leader did have control over Razakars and Al-Badrs, auxiliary forces of the Pakistan occupation army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Sanaullah Chowdhury also refuted a suggestion of the defence counsel, Mizanul Islam, that Quasem was not in Chittagong from November 7, 1971 till the time Bangladesh achieved victory.
International Crimes Tribunal-1 asked Mizanul whether he admits that Quasem was in Chittagong till November 6 and he replied in the affirmative.
Afterwards, the tribunal accepted Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon plea for time until February 2 for producing the next witness.  
The 67-year-old witness, is his testimony against Quasem on January 16, had stated that he was taken to Dalim Hotel, an Al-Badr camp in Chittagong, on November 27, 1971 and tortured at different times in presence of Quasem.
Quasem, facing 14 charges of involvement in crimes against humanity in 1971, was present at the dock yesterday.