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Azad ’involved’ in 10 types of crime

War crimes tribunal told; SQ Chy's father led looting, witness says

Staff Correspondent
The investigation agency of the international crimes tribunals yesterday said it had found “strong evidence” against suspect Abul Kalam Azad aka Bachchu Razakar in connection with ten kinds of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.
Meanwhile, a prosecution witness told International Crimes Tribunal-1 that war crimes accused BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's father had led the looting of his house during the war.
The investigation agency yesterday said the agency had completed its probe FROM PAGE 20
and it has evidence against Azad in connection with 10 incidents of genocide, killing, rape and other crimes during the 1971 war.
“Fie [Azad] was one of the brutal killers and rapists [during the war]. We have strong evidence [about his involvement],” Sanaul Huq, senior member of the investigation agency, yesterday told reporters at the Bailey Road office of the agency.
Expelled Jamaat-e-Islami member Azad went on the run around seven hours before International Crimes Tribunal-2 issued an arrest warrant against him on April 3.
“We have completed investigation into the allegations against Azad and will hand over our report [384 pages in all] to the prosecu-tion on Sunday,” Mohammad Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the investigation agency, told The Daily Star.
Prosecutor of the case Sahidur Rahman told The Daily Star that after getting the investigation report, the prosecution would inform the tribunal about it and then they would prepare formal charges against Azad based on the report.
“In accordance with the law, the war crimes trial against Azad could start in his absence,” added Sahidur.
Sanaul Fluq told reporters that Azad had been involved in ten types of crime: genocide, killing, rape, abduction, confinement, torture, arson, looting, forced religious conversion and deportation of people in Faridpur during the nine-month-long war.
"We have evidence that he [Azad] directly killed at least 14 people during the war,” said Sanaul, adding that the agency had over 50 witnesses, some of them victims, to prove the allegations. The investigation against Azad started on April 10 last year and was completed yesterday [Thursday], he added.
The investigation agency claimed that Azad was at least involved in the rape of three women, abduction of nine people, detention of 10 people and torching of five houses and looting of 15 houses. He had also forcefully converted nine people of other religions to Islam and forced numerous people of Faridpur to leave the country during the war, said the sources.
Sanaul said Azad, a resident of Barakhardia ofSaltha upazila of Faridpur, started atrocities with his father-in-
law Ghand Gazi, who was also a Razakar, and was “personally involved” in repression on women.
“At first, he operated in Nagarkanda, Saltha and Boalmari but when he gained the trust of the Pakistan army, Faridpur town came under his operation,” added Sanaul.
Quoting intelligence sources, Sanaul said, Azad might be in Pakistan now.
He said as a member of the Islami Ghhatra Sangha, the then student wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Azad had “direct links” with Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, another war crimes accused at the tribunal.
Mojaheed was president of Faridpur district Ghhatra Sangha during 1968-1970, as prosecution documents placed before the tribunal show.
Azad and Mojaheed were seen together in Faridpur stadium, which was the torture centre of the Pakistan army and their local collaborators during the war, said Sanaul.
Replying a question about Azad's running away, Sanaul said, “We have no right to arrest anyone and the court directed Dhaka Metropolitan Police to arrest him. But police could not arrest him.”
Investigation agency coordinator Hannan told reporters that with the court's authorisation the agency would take steps to seek the help of Interpol to nab Azad and bring him to justice.
Following a prosecution petition and after going through the progress report of the investigation, Tribunal-2 on April 3 issued the arrest warrant against Azad.
The trial of eight Jamaat and BNP leaders is ongoing at the two tribunals set up to deal with war crimes committed during the Liberation War.
Meanwhile, a prosecution witness yesterday told Tribunal-1 that he had fled to India during the Liberation War and upon return he was told that BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury's father Fazlul Quader Chowdhury had led the looting of his house.
A case was filed in this regard after independence but witness Parag Dhar, who was just seven during the war, could not name the accused of the case.
Parag, the ninth prosecu-tion witness against Salauddin, said different organisations had gone to their home to record their testimonies.
In his 20-minute deposition before the court, Parag said during the war Razakars--an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army--looted homes in Jagatmallopara, Modhya Gohira, Sultanpur and Kundeshwari areas of Chittagong.
“We also heard that Al-Badr and the Razakars began mass killing in those places,” the witness said, adding that his family had to flee the country and go to Agartala of India.
Parag said they returned to Bangladesh in December, 1971.
“After return, I found my father's Jeep and paddy processors stolen by Razakars and Al-Badr men. They also looted the furniture of our home," he said, adding, "I heard that the loot took place under the leader-ship of Fazlul Quader Chowdhury.”
When a prosecution lawyer asked the witness if Salauddin Quader or others had been involved in the lootings, the defence objected saying that the prosecution was leading the witness.
However, tribunal Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq then asked the witness himself whether he could mention who else were involved.
“I could not say,” Parag replied.
Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud then asked the witness whether he could identify the accused Salauddin Quader.
The tribunal then told the prosecution that it was not necessary as the witness had not said anything about Salauddin Quader.
Defence counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena then completed cross-examining the witness with 12-13 questions.
Ahsanul made a suggestion that the investigation officer had taught the witness what to say against Fazlul Quader Chowdhury.
“It's not true,” the witness said.
The proceeding of the trial was adjourned until August 5.
Salauddin Quader is facing 23 specific charges of crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, Tribunal-2 yesterday completed recording of the cross-examination of Poet Quazi Rosy, the fourth prosecution witness in the war crimes case against Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah.
On July 24, Rosy in her testimony said Quader
Mollah and his accomplices killed pro-liberation poet Meherun Nesa, her mother, and two brothers at their home in Mirpur during the Liberation War.
During cross-examination yesterday, Ekramul Huqe, defence counsel for Quader Mollah, asked the 63-year-old witness, “Are you a supporter of Awarni League?”
Rosy said she did.
Ekramul then said the witness had given “false testimony” against Jamaat leader Quader Mollah “to suppress him politically”.
“It is not true,” replied Rosy.
“Did you mention the name of Quader Mollah in your book “Shaheed Kabi Meherun Nesa?” said Ekramul.
Rosy said she did not mention anyone's name in her book as there was no scope for trial.
“As the trial has started, I have given my testimony against Abdul Quader Mollah and I was waiting for this day,” she said.
The three-member tribunal, led by its Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, adjourned the case proceeding until Sunday when the fifth prosecution witness is expected to appear before the court.
Quader Mollah is facing six counts of crimes against humanity charges at the tribunal.