The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday submitted their report, bringing eight charges of crimes against humanity against three alleged war criminals including razakar commander Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master alias Siraj Kosai.
Agency Coordinator Md Abdul Hannan Khan, Co-Coordinator M Sanaul Haque and Investigation Officer Md Helal Uddin unveiled the report during a press conference at its Dhanmondi safe home.
Later, the report was submitted to the prosecution around 3pm.
Nimai Chandra Das, a victim from Raghuduttakathi village, filed a case against some 20-30 men including the trio with a Bagerhat court in 2009. The case was later transferred to the tribunal and the investigation began on May 19 last year.
The accused – Siraj Master, Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder – are now in custody. Of the charges, four are against Siraj only.
Hannan said: “The accused took training under the Pakistani occupation forces in Khulna Ansar Camp and then set up razakar camps in Bagerhat. They are responsible for killings, genocide, loot, arson and forced conversions.”
To establish the charges, the prosecution has named 68 witnesses.
The investigators say Siraj was a key associate of razakar founder AKM Yusuf during the war and involved in crimes against humanity. Yusuf died in custody during the trial period.
Of the three, Siraj Master was more ferocious since he used to slit throat of the victims after they had been shot by his accomplices.
According to charge one, Siraj with the help of his accomplices carried out genocide, loot and arson attack in village Ranjitpur under Bagerhat sadar on May 13, 1971 when 40-50 Hindus were killed.
The second charge states that Siraj and his accomplices was responsible for genocide in Dakra of Rampal in Bagerhat on May 21 when 600-700 Hindus had been shot dead.
Siraj is the lone accused in another charge which states that with the help of his accomplices Siraj abducted, confined and tortured to kill 19 unarmed civilians in Besargati and Kandapara areas under Bagerhat sadar.
Another charge says the trio with the help of their associates confined, tortured and killed 42 people in Shakharikathi of Kochua in Bagerhat on November 5, 1971. Many houses were looted and set on fire during the incident.
Akram and Latif have been charged for forceful conversion of 200 Hindus into Islam in and around Shakharikathi and killing of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman Shikder on December 13.
