A new prosecution witness in the case against war crimes suspect Mobarak Hossain Wednesday said his elder brother had worked as an assistant of the accused during the 1971 Liberation War.
Abdul Hamid also told the International Crimes Tribunal 1 that Mobarak along with the Pakistani occupation army had killed many freedom fighters and tortured unarmed civilians in Brahmanbaria.
After his deposition, the defence counsels cross examined the witness, who claims to be a freedom fighter. The tribunal headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir adjourned session till September 22.
During the grilling, the witness said his brother Abdur Rouf had told him about Mobarak. The defence questioned him about his daily life. The witness said he had once been sued for drug addiction. In response to another query, Hamid said he did not have a freedom fighter’s certificate.
While placing his deposition, Hamid could not specify time and date of the incidents. The tribunal noticed it and told him to be specific.
The witness said he had been with Bangladesh Army since December 1971 and was posted in Syedpur. Three to four months after the liberation, he returned to Brahmanbaria and came to know that his elder brother Abdur Rouf had joined the razakar force.
Rouf had told him about the mass killings in Gangachhara and murder of Abdul Khaleque, and that Mobarak was responsible for all those crimes. Abdul Majeed was the chairman of Peace Committee there. Because of Rouf’s involvement, the family is known as razakars, he added.
