Ghoramara Aziz and 5 others get death penalty

The International Crimes Tribunal awarded death penalty for six alleged war criminals including former Gaibandha MP and Jamaat leader Abu Saleh Mohammad Abdul Aziz Mia alias Ghoramara Aziz for committing crimes against humanity.

A three member International Crimes Tribunal led by tribunal Chairman Justice Md. Shahinur Islam delivered the verdict on Wednesday.

The other members of the tribunal are Justice Amir Hossain and Md. Abu Ahmed Jamadar.

There have allegations of involvement in mass killing, killing, detaining, abduction, looting and torture against them in Sundarganj and Sadar upazilas of Gaibandha during the liberation war.

After concluding arguments presentation of the state and defendants this court kept the case as Curia Advisari Vult (CAV) on 23^rd October. Later on last Tuesday the court fixed the date for delivering verdict. This was the 29^th verdict after beginning of war crimes trial process through formation of the tribunal in 2010.

Excluding Abdul Aziz the other accused of the case are Md. Ruhul Amin alias Monju (61), Md. Abdul Latif (61), Abu Muslim Mohammad Ali (59), Md. Nazmul Huda (60) and md. Abdur Rahim Mian (62). Of the six accused only Md. Abdul Latif is in the jail and the rest are absconding.

Earlier, after the trial process a three member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque kept the case CAV on 9^th May. But the activities of the tribunal halted due to the death of Justice Anwarul Haque on 13^th July.

Later the tribunal was reformed by appointing Justice Shahinur as Chairman. Justice Md Suhrawardy returned to High Court from the tribunal. Justice Amir Hossain and Abu Ahmed Jamadar were included in the tribunal newly.

As the tribunal was reformed the judges decided to hear the arguments again before delivering the verdict on 12^th October. According to this the presentation of arguments began freshly on 22^nd October. After two days of hearing the case was again kept CAV.

The argument hearing was presented for prosecution by Sayedul Haque Suman and Syed Haider Ali. Prosecutor Sheikh Mushfique Kabir associated them.

On the other hand for Latif of the accused Khondoker Rezaul was the lawyer and on behalf of the absconding accused the state appointed lawyer Gazi MH Tamim placed the arguments.

The investigation for crimes against humanity started on 26^th October 2014 against six person of Gaibandha including Aziz. The Investigation Officer submitted the 878 page final report in six parts after more than one year of investigation.

As the investigation agency finalized the report on 27^th December 2015 the prosecution department submitted the complain formally. The investigation report said, the accused committed crimes against humanity from 9 to 13 October at Gaibandha sadar and Sundarganj upazila during the ongoing liberation war. After hearing the tribunal framed charge against the accused in June 2016.

The tribunal issued warrant against six to arrest them on 26^th November 2015. But the activities of the case started showing the five accused absconding.

Three allegations against the accused:

The first allegation said, in the morning of 9^th October, 1971 the accused entered at Mouzamali village under sadar thana of Gaibandha district accompanied by 25-30 members of Pakistani occupying force. At that time they detained, tortured and abducted four innocent, unarmed people who supported independence of Bangladesh. Later they killed one by throwing him into the river after tying his hand and legs and left other three free. They also looted the houses of the detained.

The second allegation said, on the same day at 4 pm the accused detained on guard Chhatra League leader Md. Boyes Uddin from Matherhat bridge under Sundarganj thana. They took him to the Matherhat Rajakar camp and began to torture. On the following day they took him to the Pakistani army camp established at sadar thana. After three days of torture Boyes was shot dead and buried on 13^th October afternoon.

The third allegation said, the accused illegally detained 13 innocent and unarmed pro independence Chairmen and Members with help of Pakistani occupied forces from five unions under Sundarganj thana. After torturing them for three days they were taken to the nearby bank of river besides the Pakistani army camp. They were shot dead there and buried. There a cemetery was built in remembrance of the martyrs.

AH/MK