The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has found evidence against three people from Phulbaria of Mymensingh about their alleged involvement in war-time crimes in 1971.
They are Amjad Ali, 88, of Palashihata village; Riaz Uddin Fakir, 65, of Bhalukjan village; and Wajuddin, 70, of Bidyananda village under the upazila. During the war, Riaz worked as a leader of al-Badr militia force while the two others were razakar members.
Of them, Amjad Ali died during the investigation, for which the agency would suggest that the prosecution press charges against the two others, said the probe agency’s Coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan.
Addressing a press conference at its Dhanmondi office yesterday, Hannan said that of the duo, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Riaz is currently in jail while Wajuddin is absconding.
The agency has found their involvement in at least five charges of crimes against humanity including abduction, torture, killing, rape and genocide between August 22 and November 21, 1971.
A total of 36 people will give their depositions against the alleged war criminals, Hannan said.
Investigating Officer Ataur Rahman handed over the probe report and other documents to the prosecution. Hrishikesh Saha, conducting prosecutor of the case, said that they would scrutinise the documents before submitting the formal charges.
According to the probe report, the trio were involved in abduction, torture and killing of three people of Kalairpar, Chaklauripara and Phulbaria municipality between August 22 and 25 in 1971; killing of three people of Bidyananda and Betbari on August 27; genocide that left eight Hindu people killed and three Hindu women raped in Hrishipara on November 5; genocide that left 43 people of six villages killed on November 3; and killing of three brothers of Bhalukjan on November 21.
In response to a question about the Pakistani prisoners of war, Hannan Khan said that a committee formed to gather information about the soldiers was working on the issue. The committee has sent letters to government offices for providing information and documents, and is getting good response.
Hannan also said that there was no scope of a symbolic trial of the POWs when there is a formal tribunal. Those who have arranged the symbolic trial on March 26 might be doing this to encourage people on the issue.
