Tangail man sent to jail in war crimes case

A special tribunal in Dhaka today sent a man from Tangail to jail in connection with a case filed over war crimes committed during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.

The order came after Mahabubur Rahman, 69, of Boiratiapara village in Tangail district's Mirzaganj upazila, was produced before the International Crimes Tribunal-1 this morning, Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman told The Daily Star.

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Following a prosecution petition on September 6, Mahabubur was shown arrested in the case filed over abduction and killing of philanthropist Ranada Prasad Shaha, known as RP Shaha, and his son Bhabani Prasad Shaha during 1971 war.

During an investigation, which started on April 18, the case's investigation officer found Mahabubur's involvement in two incidents of crimes, including the killing, according to the prosecutors.

Mahabubur worked under the leadership of his father, late Abdur Wadud, chairman of Mirzapur Peace Committee, an anti-liberation organisation. On May 7, 1971, the Pakistani occupation army men, accompanied and supervised by Mahabubur, attacked Kumudini Complex in Tangail to kill Ranada, who owned it, but did not find him, prosecution said.

Raiding another residence of his in Narayanganj around 11:00pm, they abducted Ranada, Bhabani and three other men and they were later killed. Pakistani army men, accompanied and supervised by Mahabubur, also attacked Mirzapur Shahapara, a village populated mostly by Hindus, on May 7 and killed 33 Hindu men, they said.

Ranada was born on November 15, 1896 in Mirzapur village near the sub-divisional town of Tangail of the erstwhile Mymensingh district. Reaching the pinnacle of success as a businessman, he placed all his companies and businesses in a trust seeking to use the proceeds for public welfare.

Kumudini Welfare Trust of Bengal thus came into existence for the poor and distressed people, according to the trust's website. Ranada established a hospital in remote Mirzapur to provide free healthcare. The philanthropist founded several educational institutions to promote education in the country, including renowned Bharateswari Homes for women.