A new prosecution witness yesterday pleaded to the war crimes tribunal for justice for the killing of many unarmed civilians in Satbaria of Pabna during the 1971 Liberation War upon the order of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Abdus Subhan.
Md Fazlul Haque, the founder principal of Satbaria College and head of Satbaria Sangram Parishad, said they had prepared a list of 175 martyrs after the atrocities in five villages on May 12, 1971.
The International Crimes Tribunal 2 recorded his testimony and adjourned the proceedings keeping his cross-examination incomplete.
The witness said Subhan had been made secretary of the local Peace Committee formed in the first week of May at a meeting held at the DC office. The accused later became vice-chairman of the collaborators’ group since he had intimate relation with the Pakistani Army men.
After the Pakistani occupation forces had taken hold of Pabna on April 11, the witness said, Subhan with the help of supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami started continuous attack on the Awami League supporters and unarmed civilians.
“On May 12, attacks were launched in different villages of Satbaria with at least 300 army men.” Witness Fazlul mentioned the names of SM Shamsul Alam, Khorshed Alam, Abu Bakar and Monsur Rahman who had helped him to prepare the list of martyrs.
He also told the tribunal about the killing of Awami League leader Mohiuddin at Gupinpur in the hands of Subhan and his cohorts. The collaborators also looted and burnt his house, Fazlul added.