A new witness in the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam yesterday claimed that his mother had been killed by gunshot of the accused and the Pakistani Army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Son of a martyr, Mokbul Hossain from Badarganj of Rangpur, placed his deposition at the tribunal 1 as the sixth prosecution witness. After his testimony, defence counsel Abdus Sobhan Tarafder started cross examining him and the tribunal adjourned the trial until today.
“On April 16 of 1971, accused Azhar came with some Pakistani troops to Tekshorehaat railway station. They set fire to every house beside the road. I along with my mother Ajinor Nesa ran towards Dhappara to save life. But at one point she told me to run fast as she could not do so,” Mokbul said.
He added that while running on the rail tracks he had heard gunshots. “When looked back, I saw Azhar and the Pakistani army killed my mother. I left the place to save my life and hid myself in a hole beside the Khalimari River.”
The witness said he had seen Azhar killing at least 15 unarmed people from Mirza Para, Molla Para and Bondhoni Para.
Mokbul said after the day, the Pakistani Army and Azhar had gone to Jharuar Beel where they killed over 1,200 civilians and captured many others. The witness heard it from others.
An alleged commander of al-Badr in 1971, Azhar was indicted on November 12 last year on six charges of crimes against humanity.
