The defence team of war crimes suspect and Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami has claimed that the prosecution’s eighth witness is biased towards the government.
During the cross-examination of Md Khalilur Rahman, 63, at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 Tuesday, defence counsel Mizanul Islam said the witness claimed he knew Nizami as a perpetrator since 1971, but could not explain how he knew the Jamaat leader. Therefore, the defence suggested, the witness was biased.
Following this, the tribunal’s proceedings were adjourned till May 26.
In his deposition given on Monday, Khalilur told the tribunal that he knew Nizami as a perpetrator since 1971. During the war, he saw Nizami abduct some of his friends, who were freedom fighters, and killed them.
“I went to India in July 1971 for training. After the training, I and my friends returned to Santhia, Pabna on November 27. We took shelter at the house of Dr Abdul Awal. One night, we heard footsteps of some people. Through the window, we saw Nizami with some razakars.
“We left the house through the back door. After some time, we heard Nizami shouting and ordering capture of all the men and to take them to the [local] primary school. Six of my freedom fighter friends were captured then,” he said.
The razakars also looted ornaments from the houses of Awal and the neighbours.
He added that river Ichhamoti was beside the school. “I was on a tree the whole night. When the situation calmed down, I went towards the school. I saw 30-35 dead bodies there. Four of my six friends were killed while two others escaped.”
After his deposition, the witness identified Nizami at the dock.
During the cross-examination, the defence tried to prove that Khalilur was not an eye witness to these incidents.
Nizami was indicted on May 28 last year on 16 counts of crimes against humanity. The charges against him include genocide, rape, torture, abduction, confinement and conspiracy, which he allegedly committed in Pabna and Dhaka during the Liberation War.
