International Crimes Tribunal-1
Defence witness claims Sayedee innocent
A defence witness yesterday told International Crimes Tribunal-1 that Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee was not involved in crimes against humanity committed in Parerhaat, Pirojpur during the Liberation War of 1971.
Nurul Haque Hawladar, the witness, also refuted the claim of freedom fighter Mahbubul Alam, a prosecution witness, that his house [Mahbubul's] was looted in Tengrakhali, Pirojpur during the war.
He said Mahbubul Alam was a nephew of one of his in-laws. “In the last 40 years, I had not heard that their house was looted." Mahbubul was about 11 years old at that time and not a freedom fighter, he added.
As the first prosecution witness, Mahbubul testified against Sayedee on December 7, 2011. The Jamaat leader is facing 20 charges of crimes against humanity.
Nurul said the peace committee and Razakar--auxiliary forces of the Pakistani occupation army--had set up two camps in Parerhaat. "I did not see Sayedee visiting the camps," he said.
Nurul, now 60, who gave his deposition and was cross-examined yesterday, used to live in Parerhaat during the Liberation War. He claimed that no incidents of rape occurred in Parerhaat at that time.
He also said Hindus went to Moulanas on their own and got converted to Islam to save their lives. After independence they went back to their religion, he added.
When the tribunal Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq asked him if he witnessed those incidents, Nurul said he was not there and that he heard it from locals.
The proceeding was adjourned till today.
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