The prosecution in the trial against alleged al-Badr leader ATM Azharul Islam yesterday claimed that the accused had assisted the Pakistani occupation forces in the killing of 10 innocent civilians at Dakhignaj cremation ground in Mahiganj of Rangpur during the 1971 Liberation War.
On the second day of closing arguments in the case, the prosecution argued on one of the six charges framed against the Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general. The International Crimes Tribunal 1 later adjourned the session until today.
The accused was present in the dock.
According to the charge, Azhar, then president of Rangpur unit Islami Chhatra Sangha, the student wing of Jamaat, had collaborated with the Pakistani Army in capturing 11 people. All but one were killed at Dakhiganj.
Prosecutor Tapos K Baul claimed that before they had been killed, the captured persons were tortured at Rangpur Cantonment. He added that the prosecution had proved the charge by placing sufficient evidence.
Mentioning the depositions of four prosecution witnesses, the junior prosecutor said Azhar used to visit Rangpur Cantonment with his 50cc motorcycle, hoisting a Pakistani flag. Tapos said as a leader of Chhatra Sangha, the accused had facilitated the abduction, torture and killings that took place on April 3, 1971.
According to the prosecution, the nature of crime is abetting and facilitating the commission of offences of abduction, confinement, torture and murder as crimes against humanity as specified in section 3(2)(a)(g)(h) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
Azhar was indicted on November 12 last year. A total of 19 witnesses testified against the accused.
