Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was sentenced to death for two charges, life in prison for another two charges and 10 years in prison in connection with another charge for his involvement in crimes against humanity during liberation war of 1971. But the remaining two charges could not be proved. The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) led-by its chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan passed the verdict on Thursday.
The tribunal started reading out summary of the 215-page verdict at 11:15 am and ended at 1.50 pm in presence of the accused Kamruzzaman. Justice Shahinur Islam read out first part of the verdict while Justice Mujibur Rahman Mia read out the second part and Justice Obaidul Hasan the third part. Of the verdict the tribunal read 65 pages.
While reading out the verdict, tribunal chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan informed the court that out of seven five allegations brought against Kamaruzzaman were proved beyond doubt.
Kamaruzzaman was sentenced to death in third and fourth charges brought for the mass killing in Shohagpur of the Sherpur district and murder of Golam Mostafa.
In the early morning of July 25, 1971, Kamaruzzaman advised members of Al-Badr and Razakar (another auxiliary force) to commit a large scale massacre, in association with Pakistani troops, in Sohagpur village of Nalitabari upazila in Sherpur.
The collaborators killed 164 unarmed civilians, 44 of whom are named and raped women.
On August 23 of 1971, following Kamaruzzaman’s instruction, collaborators took Golam Mostafa, son of late Asir Uddin of village Gridda Narayanpur in Sherpur, to an Al-Badr camp. The Jamaat leader and his accomplices brought Mostafa and one Abul Kasem to Serih Bridge and gunned them down.
Kasem could survive as he jumped into the river but suffered injuries in his fingers, but Mostafa died on the spot.
On the other hand, Kamaruzzaman was awarded life imprisonment in first and seventh charges for killing Badiuzzaman and Dara.
The verdict says, on June 29, 1971, a group of Al Badr members abducted Badiuzzaman, son of M Fazlul Haque, in Ramnagar village under Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district under the leadership of Kamaruzzaman.
Fazlul Haque was tortured at Ahmed Nagar army camp overnight and shot him dead the following day. His body was dumped in a water body. On Ramadan 27, Kamaruzzzaman with 15 to 20 armed Al-Badr people abducted one Tepa Mia and his elder son Zahurul Islam Dara from Golapjan Road, Mymensingh. They were taken to the Al-Badr camp at District Council Dak Bungalow.
He has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in the second charges, torturing Principal Abdul Hannan.
Kamaruzzaman and his accomplices beat Principal Syed Abdul Hannan of Sherpur College on a road after unclothing him.
Kamaruzzaman was, however, acquitted from the fifth and sixth charges brought against him for killing of Liakat-Mujibur and Tunu Mia. In mid-Ramadan of 1971, Kamaruzzaman and his followers picked up Liakat Ali and Mujibur Rahman Janu from their houses and brought them to a Razakar camp at Raghunathpur Bazar and they were tortured there. Later, thee duo was kept detained for four days at a police station.
Following his order, the due along with 11 other civilians were shifted to Jhenaigati Ahmed Nagar camp. Eight of them were shot death. The accused and his aide Kamran were present on spot.
In November 1971, under the instruction of the accused, some members of Al-Badr abducted Tunu and one Jahangir from Golki Bari and took them to the District Council Dak Bungalow in Mymensingh. Tunu was tortured to death. Jahangir was detained but freed later.
Attorney General Mahbebay Alam expressed his satisfaction to the newsmen present at the tribunal complex on the occasion. However, convict Kamaruzzaman’s son Hasan Iqbal, who is also a research editor of the Diganto Television has told the newsmen that his father was a HSC student in 1971 and it was not possible for his father to do all these things as brought against him by the prosecution.
Besides, they have been deprived of fair-play, Hasan Iqbal added.
The tribunal on Wednesday morning passed order setting the date of judgement in the case filed against Kamaruzzaman. On April 16, ICT-2 concluded the trial proceedings of the case keeping the case awaiting verdict which could be pronounced any day. The verdict has been called CAV (curia advisary vult, a Latin legal term) On June 4, 2012, the tribunal indicted Kamaruzzaman on sic charges of crime against humanity.
The prosecution said Kamaruzzaman was the principal organizer of the pro-Pakistan force called the Al-Badr in the northern Mymensingh region that carried out atrocities and mass killing also elsewhere in the country taking side with the Pakistani soldiers. Court Correspondent
(Court Correspondent)Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman was taken to the International Crimes Tribunal ajlas room around 11:00 am.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, the Jamaat leader was shifted to Dhaka Central jail from Kashimpur jail of Gazipur amid tight security.
Besides, Security measures have been strengthened surrounding the areas of International Crime Tribunal centering the verdict in the war case against Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 is set to pronounce the verdict in the case against Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman for his involvement in crimes against humanity on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, the tribunal led-by Obaidul Hasan fixed the date.
On January 21, the tribunal in its maiden verdict awarded Abul Kalam Azad alias ‘Bachchu Razakar’ death sentence for his involvement in crimes against humanity during liberation war in 1971.
Earlier, Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, who was indicted for his involvement in crimes against humanity, was taken to the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday morning.
Dhaka Central Jail authorities brought him to the court premise at 9:30 am.
Earlier on Wednesday evening, the Jamaat leader was shifted to Dhaka Central jail from Kashimpur jail of Gazipur amid tight security.
Besides, Security measures have been strengthened surrounding the areas of International Crime Tribunal centering the verdict in the war case against Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 is set to pronounce the verdict in the case against Jamaat assistant secretary General Muhammad Kamaruzzaman for his involvement in crimes against humanity on Thursday.
On Wednesday morning, the tribunal led-by Obaidul Hasan fixed the date.
Security measures have been strengthened surrounding the areas of International Crime Tribunal centering the verdict in the war crime case against Jamaat leader Kamaruzzaman which is set to be pronounced on Thursday.
From early morning, Police, RAB and intelligence personnel have remained on alert to ensure the security.
However, check posts were set up surrounding the High Court area. They are searching suspected persons in adjacent roads including entrance of the High Court, banglanews correspondent reports.
Besides, Armored Personnel Carrier (ACP) has been kept ready in front of the tribunal to avoid unexpected situation.
Regarding the matter, Dhaka Metropolitan Police of Ramna Zone Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hasan told banglanews, “All types of security measures have been taken to avoid violence centering the verdict. Especially security tier have been built up in and outside of the court.”
ACP is already ready and Police, RAB has taken position in the area, he added.
On duty officer at the entry point of the High Court S.I Mahidul Islam told banglanews, “The area has been covered under security blanket from Wednesday.”
Ramna Zone DC Maruf Hasan went the area around 7:00am to observe security measures.
(Source: banglanews24.com)
