War crimes accused Abdul Alim was at the "centre" of crimes against humanity in Joypurhat as his accomplices and even the Pakistani army had executed his orders, the prosecution has said.

Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta said Peace Committee and Razakar men used to inform Alim about detention of anyone and asked the victims' families to go to Alim for their release.

Rana said this while placing closing arguments in the case against Alim for the second day yesterday.

Citing testimony of the prosecution witnesses, the prosecutor said families of the victims were even asked to give Alim money to change his mind. The victims were killed either by the collaborators or by Pakistani army following his directive, he added.

During his three-hour-and-45-minute arguments, Rana covered seven charges citing testimony of at least 13 prosecution witnesses.

He also cited some documentary evidence and statements of two prosecution witnesses, who died later,

and the tribunal accepted theirstatements as evidence.

Alim, a former BNP lawmaker, is facing 17 charges of war crimes committed in Joypurhat during the Liberation War in 1971.

Rana mentioned the testimony of Mozammel Hossain, a victim and eyewitness, to prove the third charge. The witness testified that the Pakistani occupation army in a single incident killed at least 22 Awami League supporters in Joypurhat as per a list prepared by Alim.

Rana also placed the testimony of second prosecution witness Saidur Rahman to prove the sixth charge. The witness said Syed Ali Doctor, a cohort of Alim, had confined 13 people, who were leaving the country, to his house and informed Alim on May 7,1971.

Alim along with the Pakistani troops had gone there the next day. Three of

the detainees were handed over to the Pakistani army who were killed following Alim’s instruction, said Saidur.

The rest were kept detained at the waiting room of Akkelpur Railway Station. Alim showed up again two days later and handed over the 10 detainees to the Pakistani army after holding a meeting with the Peace Committee. All but one were killed, he added.

Rana also referred to the testimony of Zahidul Islam and Abdus Sobhan Sardar to prove the charge.

He cited the testimony of AKM Mahbubur Rahman, a victim's family member, to prove the seventh charge. Ignoring earnest requests, Alim had denied release of three members of their family detained by the Pakistani army and their collaborators, the witness said.

Mahbubur said his rela-

tive Kashem had talked to three Peace Committee men, who advised him to go to /Klim. But when Kashem went to Alim, he turned down the request.

Rana also mentioned the testimony of Mostafizur Rahman, son of one of the three victims.

The prosecutor also placed his arguments on the eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh charges. As the prosecution could not produce any witness to prove the fourth and fifth charges, they did not make any submission regarding those.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam heard the arguments before adjourning the proceeding.

The prosecution are set to place further arguments today.