War Crimes Trial
Kamaruzzaman ordered killing Golam Mostafa
Prosecution tells tribunal
Shahid Golam Mostafa Talukder, a freedom fighter from Sherpur, was abducted, tortured and killed on orders of the Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, the prosecution told the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday.
Mostafa, who had returned from India with freedom fighter's training, was picked up while he was visiting a store at Sherpur College Intersection on August 23, 1971, said prosecutor Saiful Islam while reading out formal charges against Kamaruzzaman.
He was taken to the house of Surendra Mohon Saha which was turned into an Al-Badr camp during the war. There he was brutally tortured and shot to death, said Saiful Islam.
The prosecution yesterday finished reading 84 pages' formal charges out of 110 against the Jamaat's senior assistant secretary general.
Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo and prosecutors Saiful Islam, Noorjahan Begum Mukta and Sultan Mahmud read out the charges before the three-judge tribunal.
Kamaruzzaman, 60, was produced before the court yesterday. He is facing nine charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.
According to the charges, the Jamaat leader was the key organiser of Al-Badr in Mymensingh district.
The Al-Badr was one of the auxiliary groups that were set up to collaborate with the Pakistani occupation army and actively oppose the liberation forces in 1971.
Pieces of evidence point out that Kamaruzzaman was involved in most of the atrocities committed by the Al-Badr in Jamalpur, Sherpur and other areas, said Saiful Islam.
The offences during the war include abducting and torturing pro-liberation youths from different parts of Sherpur; stripping off clothes of Syed Abdul Hannan, a Sherpur college teacher, and walking him around the city while whipping him; and locking up and torturing Ziaul Huq inside a dark room for two days before releasing him on condition that he would leave Sherpur.
Kamaruzzaman was also involved with the killing of freedom fighters in Sherpur's Surjadi and Nakla areas, the prosecution said.
They will continue to read out the formal charges today.
PROSECUTION'S PLAN ABOUT SAYEDEE'S TRIAL
The three-member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq yesterday directed the prosecution to submit an application on March 20 explaining its plans regarding witness testimony against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee.
The directive came after the prosecution yesterday presented investigation officer Helal Uddin, who probed the war crimes charges against Sayedee, as a witness.
The prosecution also wanted to keep the option open to bring more witnesses afterwards.
The tribunal however thought that the suggestion was not fully acceptable. It pointed out that it had reservations about allowing further witnesses after deposition of the investigation officer.
Sayedee's defence also raised objections in this regard.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Nizamul Huq then passed the order saying the prosecution could present the investigation officer as a witness only after it passes an order in response to the application detailing the prosecution's future course of action in Sayedee's trial.
As the prosecution did not have any other witnesses except the investigation officer, the proceedings against the Jamaat leader were adjourned till March 20.
PROBE PREJUDICIAL TO DEFENCE
Jamaat's chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq yesterday told the tribunal that Thursday's court inquiries regarding formal charges against Abdul Quader Mollah were prejudicial to the defence.
On Thursday, the court had made some remarks on the formal charges against the Jamaat leader and on the investigation that was used to form the charges.
It also raised questions on the quality of the investigation, and made queries on the charges.
Tribunal Chairman Justice Nizamul Huq yesterday dismissed the counsel's apprehension.
He said the court is trying to find the truth and it needs the assistance of both the defence and prosecution in reaching that goal.
“So, are we not allowed to point out your mistakes?”
He assured the defence that the tribunal is well aware of its responsibilities and no questions or queries from the court “shall prejudice any party”.
Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, Delawar Hossain Sayedee and Abdul Quader Mollah are among six Jamaat and two BNP leaders who are facing charges of crimes against humanity at the tribunal.
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