The investigation officer against war crimes accused Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam yesterday concluded his testimony before the International Crimes Tribunal 1, claiming that he has found evidence of Azhar’s crimes against humanity committed at Rangpur during the Liberation War.
Submitting deposition as the 19th prosecution witness, the investigator, SM Idris Ali, said he began his investigation against Azhar on April 15, 2012, and visited different places where Azhar had allegedly committed crimes against humanity in 1971.
Idris also exhibited some documents before the tribunal as evidence, which included the admit card of Azhar for SSC and HSC examinations, and tabulation sheets.
The probe officer said he had reviewed many books and magazines as part of his investigation, as well as collecting newspaper clippings from 1971 and different government reports and contemporary writings.
Idris also said he had found through his investigation that the Pakistani Army and Jamaat-e-Islami, Nezam-e-Islami and Pakistan Democratic Party formed many auxiliary forces like peace committee, Razakar, al-Badr and al-Shams during the Liberation War.
The IO also described when and how many time he had visited the places in Rangpur Sadar and Badarganj upazilas where the crimes had allegedly taken place.
According to documented evidences, prosecution witnesses’ statements and other evidences, Azhar was guilty of committing crimes against humanity, Idris told the tribunal.
He also exhibited a statement of a witness, Abdur Jabbar Sarker, who had died; and also submitted a video of statement of the seventh prosecution witness, Aminul Islam, who had been declared hostile by prosecution.
When defence counsel Abdus Sobhan Tarafder objected to the exhibit, the tribunal told him that he would later get his chance to cross-examine the witness on this matter.
At the end of the deposition, Tarafder cross-examined him with only one question before the tribunal adjourned the session until June 22, allowing a time plea from the defence.
Azhar, the incumbent assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, faces six charges of crimes against humanity.
