Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Abdus Subhan has been charged for involvement in genocide and murders of unarmed people along with looting, setting houses on fire and complicity to commit crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
After framing nine charges against Subhan, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday set January 28 for beginning his trial with opening statement from the prosecution.
The charges are based on separate
incidents of crimes against humanity committed between April 13 and October 30 in 1971 in Pabna. About 450 unarmed people were killed in those incidents.
The 77-year-old Jamaat leader was the vice-president of Pabna Peace Committee, an associate organisation of the Pakistani army at that time of war in 1971. He was the founder ameer of Jamaat in Pabna and a Majlish-e-Sura member of the central
unit of Jamaat in undivided Pakistan.
The most notable of the nine charges brought against Subhan is killing of 300-400 people including Hindus by the Pakistani army and its local collaborators under his leadership at several villages in Satbaria union of Sujanagar upazila on May 12,1971.
Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, chairman of the tribunal, which also has members Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim and Justice Anwarul Haque, yesterday read out the charges one after another.
Subhan sat still in the witness box as the tribunal chairman read out the charges. He was wearing a white tupi, khaki shawl, panjabi [antique brass colour], white pyjama, black sandal and eyeglasses.
He was produced before the tribunal around 10:45am. Tribunal asked Subhan to have a seat at the witness box so that he could hear the charges to be brought against him.
Other charges brought against Subhan include killing of five and injuring three others in his presence and under his leadership at Juktitala village in Ishwardi on April 13,1971.
Accompanied by local Jamaat leaders and Biharis, Subhan abducted three persons, who had taken shelter in a local mosque, on April 17-18 in 1971. Later, they were killed before him.
Led by Subhan, the Pakistani army raided Sahapur village in Ishwardi on May 2, 1971 and killed five people and looted several houses before setting those on fire.
Subhan allegedly abducted two persons from Arankhola cattle market in Ishwardi on May 16, 1971. The hostages were tortured at District Dak Bungalow in Ishwardi.
The Jamaat leader also led the Pakistani
army in alleged attacks on Kulniya and Dogachi villages in Pabna sadar on May 11, 1971. Five people were killed and several houses were torched at that time.
On May 20, 1971, under the leadership of Subhan, the Pakistani army allegedly picked up 18 people from Varara village in Pabna and killed one of them instantly. Others had been tortured at Nurpur Power Plant. Later, some of
them were killed near Debottar Bazar.
At least 18 people were killed in the incident.
In the first week of September, Subhan, accompanied by local Razakars, abducted two pro-liberation persons from Dublia Bazar under Pabna sadar and killed them inside a temple at Kuchiamara village.
On October 30, 1971, Subhan and local Razakars attacked Betbaria village in Ishwardi and looted several houses before setting those on fire. Four people were also abducted from the village and later killed.
After the charges were read out, the tribunal chairman asked Subhan if he would plead guilty or not.
In response, Subhan said, "I am completely innocent. I don't have any involvement in the charges brought ' against me."
If convicted, he could get the capital punishment.
The prosecution have so far planned to examine 43 witnesses to prove the charges.
Subhan, son of Sheikh Naimuddin and Nurani Begum of Tailakundi village of Sujanagar upazila in Pabna, was arrested on September 20,2012.
After a 17-month-long probe against Subhan, the war crimes investigation agency submitted its final probe report to the prosecution on September 12. Three days later the