Qaisar charged with war crimes
Prosecution presses 18 charges against the ex-minister
The prosecution yesterday pressed 18 war crimes charges against Syed Mohammad Qaisar, an alleged Razakar commander and member of Peace Committee in Habiganj, for his “wartime role” during the Liberation War in 1971.
According to the formal charges, Qaisar was “involved” in at least 11 incidents of killing that left 155 people dead, two incidents of rape and five incidents of abduction, loot, arson and other crimes between April 27 and November 15, 1971.
In a single incident of mass killing, at least 108 people, mostly Hindus, were killed in 22 villages under Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria on November 15. Qaisar was “involved” in those killings, prosecutor Tureen Afroz told The Daily Star, quoting the formal charges.
The prosecution, including Zead Al Malum and Tureen Afroz, yesterday submitted the formal charges to the tribunal's registrar office and the International Crimes Tribunal-2 fixed today for passing an order.
Seventy-three-year-old Qaisar, a former state minister in military dictator HM Ershad's cabinet, was arrested in the capital on May 21 following a warrant of arrest issued by the tribunal.
The war crimes suspect was granted bail on August 5 on health grounds.
After probing the allegations against Qaisar for 16 months, the war crimes investigation agency on September 22 said it had found “horrifying evidence” of his involvement in crimes against humanity.
Malum told reporters the prosecution had submitted 2,447 pages of documents with the formal charges and a list of 70 witnesses, including Social Welfare Minister Enamul Haque Mostafa Shahid, to prove the charges.
Qaisar, the alleged founder and leader of the “Qaisar Force”, which was an associate organisation of the Pakistani army at Habiganj and Brahmanbaria during the war, was “involved” in murders, extermination, enslavement, deportation, imprisonment, abduction, confinement, torture, rape and other inhumane activities, said Malum.
The charges brought against Qaisar are: 1. Killing of Shahjahan chairman, injuring Nayeb Ali, attack, arson and loot in Kazibari under Bijoynagar in Brahmanbaria on April 27.2. Loot and arson in Madhabpur Bazar and Katiara under Madhabpur in Habiganj on April 27.3. Killing of four people and loot and arson at Krishnanagar village under Madhabpur, Habiganj on April 27.4. Killing of 15 people, including Abdus Sattar at Madhabpur Bazar, Purba Madhabpur and Sadatbari village in Madhabpur, Habiganj on April 28.5. Confinement, torture and killing of seven people, including Abdul Aziz, near Shayestaganj Godown and Bridge in Shayestaganj, Habiganj, on April 29.6. Confinement, torture and killing of two persons, including Dr Saleh Uddin Ahmed of Nizampur and Kirtanpur in Habiganj Sadar on April 29.7. Arson and loot at 40/50 houses at Habiganj Sadar on April 30.8. Rape of a Santal woman at Chandpur Tea Garden on May 11.9. Killing of eight people, including Abdul Aziz, at Lohadaha in Madhabpur, Habiganj on May 15.10. Killing of Shah Firoz of Mokambari village in Habiganj Sadar and abduction, confinement and torture of Sabu Mia on June 13.11. Abduction, confinement, torture of Golam Rasul and his family members at Haripur in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria in the last part of June.12. Attack, loot and arson at the house of Dayal Gobinda of Gutma village in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria on June 23.13. Attack, loot and arson at the house of Sayedul Haque at Purbavag village in Nasirnagar, Brahmanbaria on June 23. 14. Rape of a woman and torture of two men of Madhabpur, Habiganj in mid-August.15. Confinement, torture and killing of four people at Narapati village, Chunarughat, Habiganj on August 18.16. Confinement, torture and killing of four people of Mouzpur in Madhabpur, Habiganj on September 29.17. Abduction, confinement, torture and killing of Nazim Uddin of Sahapur village in Madhabpur, Habiganj in mid-October, and18. Killing of at least 108 people, mostly Hindus, in 22 villages in Nasirnagar upazila in Brahmanbaria on November 15.
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