War crimes trial verdict today

A war crimes tribunal is set to deliver its verdict today in the case against former state minister Syed Mohammad Qaisar for his alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.

Qaisar faces 16 charges of crimes including killing Bangalees, especially Hindus and freedom fighters, during the war in 1971.

An alleged local leader of anti-liberation forces Razakar and Peace Committee, the war crimes accused was charged with participating and abetting an act of genocide in 22 villages under Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria that left 108 Hindus dead.

Qaisar, 73, alleged founder of Qaisar Bahini, which had 400-500 collaborators to assist the Pakistan army, was also charged with at least 11 incidents that left 47 people dead, two incidents of rape and two incidents of inhuman acts between April 27 and November 15, 1971.

While passing the order on verdict, Justice Obaidul Hassan, chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, said, “Let the matter be fixed tomorrow for judgement.”

If found guilty, Qaisar may walk the gallows.

The prosecution on the closing day of arguments sought Qaisar's capital punishment and compensation for the victims, while the defence prayed to the tribunal to give him acquittal.

According to the prosecution, Qaisar was the gang leader of the Qaisar Bahini, which worked as an auxiliary force of the Pakistan army and had “operational, administrative, and static relation” with the occupation force.

The prosecution believe Qaisar will be found guilty for the crimes committed by him as well as Qaisar Bahini.

The prosecution produced 32 witnesses, mostly freedom fighters and victims' family members, and documents to prove the charges. The defence, on the other hand, did not produce any witness.

According to the defence, Qaisar neither formed any force named “Qaisar Bahini” nor committed any offence mentioned in the charges.

The war crimes accused was arrested in the capital on May 21 last year. He was granted bail in August the same year on health grounds, but the tribunal upon completion of trial proceedings cancelled the bail and sent him back to jail on August 20.

Son of Muslim League leader Syed Soeed Uddin Ahmed of Itakhola in Madhabpur of Habiganj, Qaisar in his political career was affiliated with Muslim League, BNP and Jatiya Party. In 1988, he became a state minister of Bangladesh, the birth of which he vehemently opposed in 1971.

CHARGES

Charge 1: Qaisar being accompanied by Qaisar Bahini gunned down one Shahjahan chairman in Brahmanbaria and tortured one Naeb Ali on April 27.

Charge 2: On April 27, he along with his force and the Pakistan army looted valuables and destroyed around 150 houses and shops at Katiara village.

Charge 3: He abetted and facilitated killings of four civilians and caused mental and physical harm to pro-liberation civilians at Krishnanagar village on April 27.

Charge 4: He was involved in killing 15 civilians at Madhabpur Bazar on April 28.

Charge 5: He abetted and facilitated killings of seven civilians who were detained at Shaestaganj food godown by Qaisar Bahini for about one month. The killings took place on May 29.

Charge 6: Upon his instruction, the Pakistani army caught Dr Salehuddin and Hirendra Chandra Roy from Shaestaganj on April 29. They were later killed at Laskarpur.

Charge 7: Qaisar Bahini led by the war crimes accused looted houses of 45 civilians of Habiganj town.

Charge 8: He abetted and contributed in committing rape of tea garden worker Hiramoni at Chanpur Tea garden on May 11.

Charge 9: Upon Qaisar's instruction, the Pakistan army killed eight civilians of Lohaid village on May 15.

Charge 10: He abetted, facilitated and contributed in killing Shah Firoz Ali and torturing Shah Hossain Ali at an army camp at R&H bungalow in Shaestaganj on June 13.

Charge 11: He participated and facilitated murder, abduction, torture and other inhuman acts at Haripur, Gutma and Purbabhag under Nasirnagar police station on June 23.

Charge 12: He abetted and contributed in committing rape of Majeda at an army camp at Jagadishpur High School on any day of mid-August.

Charge 13: He led a group of Razakars in detaining three civilians of Narapati village on August 18 and killing them later at Nalua tea garden.

Charge 14: He participated, facilitated and contributed in killing four civilians at Sonai River Bridge.

Charge 15: Following his instruction, Qaisar Bahini apprehended one Nazim Uddin from his house and kept him detained at Qaisar's house where the victim was tortured for a day. Later the victim was kept detained at Shahajibazar Bidyut Kendra army camp. Nazim was later killed. The incident took place on any day of mid-October.

Charge 16: Qaisar led a group of Razakars, peace committee members and Qaisar Bahini operators when the Pakistani army launched an attack on civilians in Daura, Nishchintapur and 20 other villages under Nasirnagar police station and created horror by indiscriminate shooting around the crime sites, setting houses on fire, looting households of civilians with an intent to destroy the Hindu religious community, either whole or in part.

In conjunction with the horrendous events, Qaisar and other perpetrators killed 108 unarmed Hindus.