<i>War crime accused invited to join tribunal's meet!</i>
A war crime accused person's presence at a view exchange meeting of the Internal Crimes Tribunal investigation team at Bagerhat yesterday created resentment among the freedom fighters and war crime victims.
Accused in four war crime cases, Gotapara union parishad Chairman Basarat Halder was present as an invitee at the meeting with the freedom fighters and affected people at Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium in the morning.
At one stage Basarat left the meeting in face of objection from the freedom fighters.
"Basarat Halder was an identified razakar [collaborator of the Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War] of Gotapara union. His father late Shawkat Ali Halder was a member of the sub-division peace committee. Basarat is accused in four cases for war crimes," said Assistant Commander (Office) of Bagerhat district Muktijoddha Command Council Sheikh Mostafizur Rahman Badsha who was present at the meeting.
Basarat Halder, on the other hand, said, "I joined the meeting after getting invitation through the Bagerhat Sadar upazila nirbahi officer. I left the meeting as question was raised over my presence there."
He claimed that the cases against him were conspiratorial.
Bagerhat Sadar upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Shafiqul Islam said, "Basarat Halder was invited to the meeting as a UP chairman. All the 10 UP chairmen in the upazila were invited. I do not know whether Basarat was a razakar."
Sadar upazila parishad Chairman Khan Mujibur Rahman presided over the meeting held at Bagerhat Sadar Upazila Parishad auditorium where a good number of freedom fighters, people affected by the Pakistani occupation forces and their collaborator razakars during the Liberation War, relatives of the war crime victims and journalists were present.
"The Pakistan army stationed at Bageraht town aided by razakars crossed Bhairab River on May 12 in 1971 and went to Kandapara Bazar. There they injured 22 people by beating and charging bayonets. Nineteen of them succumbed to their injuries on the day. In the evening I went to the area and saw the bodies," Sheikh Mostafizur Rahman Badsha said at the meeting.
Kachua upazila Mukitjoddha Commander Khan Habibur Rahman handed over a list of 122 razakars to the International War Crimes Tribunal investigation team.
Leader of the investigation team, Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Md Helal Uddin said, "This is our first visit to Bagerhat for the purpose. We went round seven killing grounds and talked with at least 25 people. We sought information from the district administration and police regarding the mass graves, killing grounds and martyred freedom fighters and about the razakars."
"We were informed that 63 cases for war crimes have been filed in Bagerhat district. Our team will come to Bagerhat again for investigation," he added.
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