Another PW implicates Taher, Nani in murder of six in Netrakona

A prosecution witness yesterday corroborated testimonies of previous witnesses that war crimes accused Obaidul Haque Taher and Ataur Rahman Nani were among the Razakars who killed six people in Netrakona on November 15, 1971.

Mizanur Rahman, a resident of Birampur village in Netrakona Sadar upazila, told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the same group of Razakars had also detained and tortured him, but he was released following intervention of the higher-ups of National Bank, where he worked.

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Earlier, seven other prosecution witnesses gave almost similar testimonies implicating Taher and Nani in the killings.

Taher and Nani face six charges. They pleaded not guilty before the tribunal. Mizanur Rahman said he went back to his village home in Birampur in April 1971. The 74-year-old witness said he used to help freedom fighters, including Badiuzzaman Mukta.

On November 15, 1971, around 15 to 20 Razakars came to Birampur Bazar and two of them picked him up from his house, said Mizanur.

Mizanur said Razakars also detained Badiuzzaman Mukta, Abdul Malek Shanta, Siddiqur Rahman, Islam Uddin and Lebu Sarkar and took them, along with him, to Netrakona.

Along the way, one Ismail was picked up, he added.

Mizanur said Razakars killed Lebu Sarkar at Laxmiganj Ferry Ghat after learning that he was a Hindu.

They were taken to Muktarara Bridge at night and Razakars fired shots after blindfolding them, said Mizanur, adding that after four to five gunshots, someone removed his blindfold and took him to an army camp.     

Mizanur said he was released after they learnt his identity, and on the condition of providing them with freedom fighters' information.

Later, he learnt from his brother that National Bank intervened for his release.

His brother also learnt from people that Taher and Nani were among the Razakars who detained him from Birampur Bazar, said Mizanur.    

Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, the counsel for Taher and Nani, completed Mizanur's cross-examination before the tribunal adjourned the case proceeding until today.