A new witness in the war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali yesterday said the accused had led al-Badr cadres to abduct his father and kill him after torture at Daleem Hotel in Chittagong City during the 1971 Liberation War.
Fifth prosecution witness Shibu, 46, son of Ranjit Das of Hazari Lane, said he had heard about the matter from his mother.
He said on a day in November 1971, the al-Badr cadres led by Mir Kashem had abducted his father from their home and took him to the nearby Daleem Hotel, a torture camp of the al-Badr force. He was tortured to death there along with a neighbour Tuntu Sen.
Mir Kashem, the Jamaat Executive Council member and a key financier, was a commander of the notorious al-Badr force. He is facing 14 charges of crimes against humanity.
Shibu in his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 said many innocent people had been tortured and killed at the Daleem Hotel. The al-Badr cadres also used to loot the belongings of Hindu communities and set their houses on fire. He added that at that time, many Hindus had left for India as refugees.
His father Ranjit used to run a teashop and involved in business of old bottles.
After his deposition, Shibu was quizzed by defence counsel Mizanul Islam.
Before his testimony, the defence counsel concluded cross-examination of fourth prosecution witness Sunil Kanti Bardhan, who submitted his deposition against the accused on Monday.
Mir Ahmad Bin Kashem, son and counsel for the accused, filed an application seeking permission to provide the accused “suitable” vehicle for his journey to and from the tribunal at the cost of the defence, if needed.
After hearing the defence, the tribunal set February 20 for passing order.
