A prosecution witness yesterday claimed that war crimes accused AKM Yusuf had killed 100,000 unarmed civilians in Khulna district during the 1971 Liberation War.
In his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 2, eighth witness MA Khaleque described about the killing, deportation and forcefully religious conversion that Yusuf had ordered at that time.
After his deposition, defence counsel Saifur Rahman cross examined him which was remained unfinished. The tribunal set tomorrow for further proceedings.
The witness said as a senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islami and founder of razakar force, Yusuf had trained the collaborators with the help of Pakistani occupation army and local Ansar commander.
The witness said he had been an SSC examinee during the war. After March 26, a student resistance committee had been founded and they started taking preparation to take part in the Liberation War.
“On April 25, I saw AKM Yusuf addressing at our school when he said people aged 16 to 60 should have Dandy card [ID card], otherwise they will be killed. Yusuf also said the Awami League supporters, Hindus and freedom fighters were enemies of Pakistan. He also incited arson attacks on the Hindu houses.”
He said on April 19, Yusuf had taken part in another meeting at Rampal of Bagerhat and uttered similar words. “When we were preparing for the war, on June 6, I along with Asmat Ali, Ismail and Hanif Molla took shelter at the Royenda Bazar. At 3 of that night Yusuf came to Sharankhola with 15-20 persons and the local razakars attacked us.”
The witness said as his fellows had been hiding in a toilet Yusuf with some razakars came and beat them up, and shot them dead. Khaleque also described the murder of his father Jainal Fakir.
Kashem’s trial begins
The formal trial against Jamaat Executive Council member Mir Kashem Ali began yesterday with opening statements by prosecutors Sultan Mahmud and Ridia Sultana.
They said they had enough evidence against Kashem to try him.
After the opening statement, the tribunal set December 10 for the first prosecution witness. At the same time, it asked the defence to submit documents and a list of witnesses on or before November 25.
Senior defence counsel Abdur Razzak argued on three pleas submitted by the defence – related to seeking the prosecution’s documents, witness details and the probe report against the accused.
After a hearing, the tribunal 2 said it would not provide the defence with the probe report. But they could read it at the court room if they wanted to. The tribunal also told the prosecutors to provide reference of books to the defence.
Allegedly an al-Badr commander during the Liberation War, Mir Kashem is facing 14 charges of crimes against humanity he had committed in Chittagong.
