A prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday said the role of war crimes suspect Abdus Subhan was similar to that of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam during the Liberation War in 1971.Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon made the comparison after submitting a formal charge against Subhan at the tribunal’s registrar office.After the prosecution informed the tribunal about the submission, the tribunal said it would fix a date today for taking cognisance of the charge.Simon yesterday told journalists that he had submitted all the necessary evidence and statements of witnesses to the tribunal.The prosecution has decided to examine 43 witnesses to prove nine counts of war crimes allegedly committed by Subhan. The war crimes investigation agency submitted the final probe report to the prosecution on September 12.Subhan spoke Urdu very well, which is why he became a close ally of Pakistani army in 1971, Simon observed.
“Under his leadership, Peace Committee and auxiliary forces of the Pakistani army, such as Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Al-Mujahid, had been formed at different police stations in Pabna,” he added.
ALLEGATIONS
The formal charge reads: On May 12, 1971, the Pakistani army and its local collaborators under the leadership of Subhan killed 300 to 400 people at several villages in Satbaria union under Pabna’s Sujanagar Police Station.In the presence of Subhan and under his leadership, five people of Juktitala village under Ishwardi upazila were allegedly killed and three others injured on April 13, 1971.Simon said Subhan, accompanied by local Jamaat leaders and Biharies, abducted three persons, who had taken shelter at a local mosque, on April 17 and 18 in 1971. Later, they were killed in the presence of Subhan.Led by Subhan, the Pakistani army raided Sahapur village under Ishwardi on May 2, 1971, and killed several people there and looted many houses before setting those on fire.Subhan abducted two persons from Arankhola cattle market in Ishwardi on May 16, 1971. The hostages were tortured at District Dak Bungalow in Ishwardi.Subhan also led the Pakistani army in alleged attacks at Kulniya and Dogachhi villages in Pabna on May 11, 1971. Seven people were killed and several houses were torched at that time, the prosecutor said.On May 20, 1971, under the leadership of Subhan, the Pakistani army allegedly picked up 18 people from Varara village in Pabna and killed one of them instantly, Simon said, adding the others had been tortured at Nurpur Power Plant. Some of them were later killed near Debottar Bazar.In the first week of September 1971, Subhan, accompanied by local Razakars, abducted two pro-liberation persons from Dublia Bazar under Pabna sadar upazila and killed them inside a temple at Kuciamara village.On October 30, 1971, Subhan and local Razakars attacked Betbaria village under Ishwardi upazila and looted several houses before setting those on fire, said Simon, referring to the probe findings. Four people were also abducted from the village and later killed.Earlier on July 15, Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in prison for committing genocide and other wartime offences during the war.Meanwhile, defence counsel yesterday completed cross-examining the 22nd prosecution witness in the war crimes case against Motiur Rahman Nizami.Witness Shahjahan Ali gave his deposition on September 12. The proceedings of the case were adjourned until today.
“Under his leadership, Peace Committee and auxiliary forces of the Pakistani army, such as Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams and Al-Mujahid, had been formed at different police stations in Pabna,” he added.
ALLEGATIONS
The formal charge reads: On May 12, 1971, the Pakistani army and its local collaborators under the leadership of Subhan killed 300 to 400 people at several villages in Satbaria union under Pabna’s Sujanagar Police Station.In the presence of Subhan and under his leadership, five people of Juktitala village under Ishwardi upazila were allegedly killed and three others injured on April 13, 1971.Simon said Subhan, accompanied by local Jamaat leaders and Biharies, abducted three persons, who had taken shelter at a local mosque, on April 17 and 18 in 1971. Later, they were killed in the presence of Subhan.Led by Subhan, the Pakistani army raided Sahapur village under Ishwardi on May 2, 1971, and killed several people there and looted many houses before setting those on fire.Subhan abducted two persons from Arankhola cattle market in Ishwardi on May 16, 1971. The hostages were tortured at District Dak Bungalow in Ishwardi.Subhan also led the Pakistani army in alleged attacks at Kulniya and Dogachhi villages in Pabna on May 11, 1971. Seven people were killed and several houses were torched at that time, the prosecutor said.On May 20, 1971, under the leadership of Subhan, the Pakistani army allegedly picked up 18 people from Varara village in Pabna and killed one of them instantly, Simon said, adding the others had been tortured at Nurpur Power Plant. Some of them were later killed near Debottar Bazar.In the first week of September 1971, Subhan, accompanied by local Razakars, abducted two pro-liberation persons from Dublia Bazar under Pabna sadar upazila and killed them inside a temple at Kuciamara village.On October 30, 1971, Subhan and local Razakars attacked Betbaria village under Ishwardi upazila and looted several houses before setting those on fire, said Simon, referring to the probe findings. Four people were also abducted from the village and later killed.Earlier on July 15, Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in prison for committing genocide and other wartime offences during the war.Meanwhile, defence counsel yesterday completed cross-examining the 22nd prosecution witness in the war crimes case against Motiur Rahman Nizami.Witness Shahjahan Ali gave his deposition on September 12. The proceedings of the case were adjourned until today.
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