Khulna FFs making list of razakars

1 April 2009, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Khulna

Khulna district unit of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Command Council (BMCC) has started preparing a upazila-wise list of 'rajakars'. "We have already made a second list of 24 rajakars of Batiaghata upazila. The first list of 61 rajakars of the same upazila was made last year," said Captain (retd) Afzal Hossain, convenor of Batiaghata upazila unit of BMCC. Meanwhile, rajakars, who were notorious collaborators of Pakistan occupation forces during the Liberation War in 1971, in other upazilas are reportedly lobbying hard to get exempted from the list. Freedom fighter Sheikh Abdul Kayyum, chairperson of Khulna Citizens' Forum warned that any attempt to save any rajakar or drop them from list would be treated as betrayal to those who laid down their lives for liberation of their motherland. He hoped the lists of rajakars would be flawless and transparent--without victimising any innocent person. Sheikh Kamruzzaman Tuku who was Khulna district commander of freedom fighters in 1971 and is currently holding the post of general secretary of Bagerhat district Awami League expressed similar view. Meanwhile, Khulna district unit of Bangladesh Sector Commanders' Forum (BSCF) also made a list of four persons identifying them as war criminals. One of them is central Jamaat leader and ex-lawmaker Shah Mohammad Ruhul Quddus of Paikgachha upazila of Khulna, said Lt (retd) Rahmatullah Dadu, convenor of Khulna divisional unit of BSCF. Meanwhile, 20 'rajakars' of Batia-ghata upazila of Khulna district were sued on Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the killing of freedom fighter Khalilur Rahman of east Baniakhamar under Khulna Sadar thana during the war of liberation in 1971. The accused are Abu Taleb Morol alias ATM Rafique, Ali Akbar Haji, Mostafa Molla, Mahabubur Molla, Masum Billah, Dr Mohor Sheikh, Ruhul Molla, Akbar Molla, Abdul Hakim Gazi, Abdur Rashid Howlader, Mosharef Gazi, Nazrul Islam Mridha, Rustam Ali Sheikh, Hatem Ali Sheikh, Amjad Fakir, Yusuf Ali, Rajab Ali Sarder, Gaffar Golder, Zafar Molongi and Jalal Molla. All the accused are alive.