A prosecution witness said yesterday that he had witnessed the killing of his father and six others by the accused war criminal Syed Mohammad Qaisar and his men in 1971.
After giving a deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 2, the ninth witness, Mostafa Ali, 66, sought justice for the atrocities committed against the pro-liberation people in Habiganj.
His father was a security guard at a food warehouse at Shayestaganj where the witness used to go to serve him lunch.
“On April 29, when freedom fighter Mostafa Shaheed left the place with some food for his fellow fighters, Qaisar came to the place and left without saying anything. After some time, he came to the place chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ and questioned seven employees [including the witness’ father] for helping the freedom fighters,” Mostafa said.
At that time the witness and his younger brother had been inside the go-down. The six others were the then sub-divisional food controller Abdul Aziz, circle inspector Abdul Khaleque, acting officer Rezaul Karim, handing controller Tara Mia and two guards.
“Qaisar threatened my father and his colleagues not to send food outside,” continued Ali.
The witness said he had seen Qaisar and members of the “Qaisar Bahini” taking the seven staff, on foot, to a nearby rest house, which was used as a Pakistani occupation forces camp.
Around 2pm, the collaborators and the troops had taken the confined persons to the bank of the Khowai River. The witness said he had seen this while hiding in a sugarcane field.
“Qaisar then asked the Pakistan Army to shoot my father and others to death. The bodies were thrown into the river. As I was helpless, I could not do anything,” he said.
Witness Mostafa identified the accused in the dock.
After his deposition, defence counsel SM Shajahan asked him one question and the tribunal has set today for further cross-examination.
