The war crimes tribunal yesterday recorded testimony of the 21st prosecution witness in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf.
Dilip Das, 65, gave his deposition on the killing of 65 Hindu villagers of Ranjitpur in Bagerhat.
Before his deposition, the International Crimes Tribunal 2 recorded the evidence of a seizer list witness, Md Ezabuddin Mia, a Bangla Academy librarian.
Dilip said on May 13 of 1971, the locals had been preparing to save the village from attack of razakars. “That day Yusuf’s accomplices came to their village and set fire to houses. All of them who were on duty to protect the village from any attack retreated as they were not well prepared.”
He said Rajjab Ali with Siraj master, Akiz Uddin and Ishaq had attacked in a planned way. When they started shooting, all of them gave slogan saying “Pakistan Jindabaad” and “Yusuf Bhai Jindabaad.”
Dilip said he had been hiding in a bush during the attack. When the attackers left the area, the locals found 65 bodies including 25 of that particular village.
After the incident, the witness said he had left Bangladesh and went to India where he attained training at Tetta camp. After finishing the training, he came back to Bangladesh on June 1971.
His testimony was incomplete as the tribunal adjourned the proceedings until today.
Yusuf is facing 13 counts of crimes against humanity including genocide, murders, arson attacks, abduction, torture in confinement, and forced conversion and deportation of Hindus at different places of the district.
For the first time, Yusuf was not in the dock as he had been excused from physical presence at the tribunal.
