War crimes evidence found against 16 Narail, Sherpur men

Investigators have found evidence against 16 men from Narail and Sherpur over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

They were “involved” with Razakar Bahini and “committed” mass killing, murders, abduction, looting and arson in Narail and Sherpur in 1971, Sanaul Huq, co-coordinator of Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), told reporters at his Dhanmondi office in Dhaka today.

Twelve Narail men are accused in a case while four Sherpur men are accused of another case.

In Narail case, five accused--Abdul Wahab, 80, and Omar Ali Sheikh, 64, Gulzar Khan, 75, Mohammad Daud Sheikh, 67, Md Badruddoza alias Badiuzzaman, 75, are now in jail while Khandakar Shawkat Ali Babul, 68, is yet to be arrested.

Of them, Wahab, Omar, Gulzar and Babul were supporters of Muslim League in 1971 and now Gulzar is involved with Awami League while Babul with BNP, investigators said.

Badruddoza and Daud were supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and Badruddoza still involved with Jamaat, they said.

Investigation agency did not reveal the names of the six other accused as arrest warrant was not issued against them yet.

In Sherpur case, SM Aminuzzaman Faruk, 58, AKM Akram Hossain, 62, and Emdadul Haque alias Kwaza Doctor, 74 are now in jail while another accused is yet to be arrested. All three accused are now involved with BNP, investigators said.

After receiving the investigation reports and other documents, prosecution will scrutinise those and if satisfied, prosecutors will press charges against the accused for initiating trial, Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman said.

CHARGES

Sanaul Huq said that they recommended for bringing five charges against 12 Narail men.

According to the first charge, the accused killed 2700 to 2800 Hindus and Awami League supporters and people who had taken shelter in Narail on different dates.

The accused killed 10 other peoples, tortured several others and looted houses, according to four other charges.

Investigation agency also recommended four charges against four Sherpur men, Sanaul said.

According to the charges, the accused were involved in abduction, torture and killing of six men, looting and arson of houses in Sherpur.

Replying to a query, Sanaul said investigation is going on against BNP leader and former education minister Muhammad Osman Farruk over his alleged involvement in crimes committed in 1971.

He said the agency conducting a preliminary investigation against controversial businessman Moosa bin Shamsher over his alleged war-time crimes.