Four freedom fighters have raised allegations of war-time crimes against four men in Habiganj, including Azmiriganj upazila Awami League president Mizba Uddin Bhuiyan and his brother Nurul Haque Bhuiyan.
The freedom fighters have submitted a petition to the International Crimes Tribunal's investigation agency in Dhaka on August 23, pleading justice for the victims.
The allegations include looting, abduction, and torture, killing and barring Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman from campaigning during 1970’s general election at Azmiriganj upazila.
The others accused in the petition are Ali Reza, 70, from Sharifnagar village of Azmiriganj upazila and Siddique Miah, 72, from Hosenpur village of Baniachong upazila.
Regarding the matter, Erstwhile Meghna River Force Commander and retired Army officer Md Fazlur Rahman Chowdhury, said: “We detained and interrogated Kakailoseo Union Parishad Chairman Nurul Haque Bhuiyan, his brother Mizba Uddin Bhuiyan and Razakar commander Ali Reza during the Liberation War in 1971. They all confessed to looting, setting fire to many houses and even killing. They had worked for Pakistani forces.”
Ashraf Uddin, a freedom fighter and also one of the complainants, said: “Former Muslim League leader and Kakailoseo Union Parishad Chairman Nurul Haque Bhuiyan was very powerful at that time. For this reason, he was injected into the Peace Committee. And his brother Azmiriganj upazila Awami League president Mezba Uddin Bhuiyan was an accomplice.”
Rejecting the complaints outright, Mizba Uddin Bhuiyan said: "All allegations against us are false. The complainants held a press conference demanding release of Madhu Miah, a local of Bithongol village who was jailed over a war crimes case. Even five cases including rape and murder have been proved against Madhu. We have rescued a Hindu girl who was abducted by Madhu during the Liberation War.
"We have already testified against Madhu, although the complainants threatened us not to do that. They are trying to save Madhu."
Meanwhile, Mizba's brother UP Chairman Nurul Haque Bhuiyan said: “There are some disputes between the complaints and us regarding some local matters. For this reason, they filed the complaint against us.”
