Subhan abetted mass killing

A prosecution witness yesterday testified how Jamaat leader Abdus Subhan had abetted and facilitated the Pakistani army in a mass killing at several villages in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna during the Liberation War.

Abdul Baten, 60, 25th prosecution witness in the case against the Jamaat-e-Islami nayeb-e-ameer, told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that he had witnessed the killing of four people by the Pakistani occupation army at the instruction of Subhan on May 12, 1971.

The army had attacked their village at 6:00am that day and caught his father Madari Mondal and uncle Laskar Mondal, he added.

The witness said he had taken shelter at a garden behind Basu Saha's house where many people including Chetona, Ratna, Ghughori and Modon were hiding themselves.

Baten added he along with Chetona, Ratna, Ghughori and Modon had decided to go to Narohati Beel. Four army vehicles had stopped near them on the way and Subhan was in one of those vehicles, he said.

“Showing Chetona, Ratna, Ghughori and Modon, Moulana Subhan told the Pakistani army 'Those … [used a racial and derogatory word to mean Hindus] are people of Joy Bangla',” he said.

“The Pakistani army immediately opened fire and killed them on the spot,” said Baten, who witnessed the killing from behind a rain tree on the west side of the road.

The witness said he had fainted seeing the cold-blooded killing. “After some time I regained consciousness and went to my cousin late Azhar Mondal's house in Upendranagar.”

He returned to his house after the Pakistani army had left the village around 2:00pm and begun searching for his father and uncle.

“Around 4:00pm I heard that about 20-25 people were killed in Kondorpur village. I went there and found bullet-hit Afsar of Kuripara village and Obaidullah of Momrajpur village. I also found my father and uncle in a state of unconsciousness,” he added.

The witness said he had rescued his father and uncle and taken them home with the help of one Naran Biswas.

“On my way home I saw many bodies on the bank of the river [Padma] near Sindurpur village,” he added.

The witness said he had known Subhan from before May 12, 1971 prior to the defence completed cross-examining him.

Proceeding of the case was adjourned until September 2.

TRIBUNAL-1

The defence at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday began placing counter arguments in the war crimes case against Jamaat Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz yesterday expressed regret if anyone was hurt by the use of her “indecent” word to address the Jamaat leader during their arguments on Tuesday. However, she said she had “used the word believing what Azharul is, with the evidence she had, and the word described him perfectly”.

Earlier, the defence drew the attention of the tribunal to the prosecutor's remark and protested against it. The tribunal sought explanation from Tureen.

The tribunal said they had also felt embarrassed when the prosecutor used the term. The tribunal asked her to be cautious about using language in future.

The defence yesterday placed arguments on synopsis of charges brought against their client.

Azharul faces six charges for alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide. The prosecution examined 19 witnesses to prove the charges.

Proceeding of the case was adjourned until September 1.