Charges against Chapainawabganj ‘Razakars’

Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain, alleged members of Razakar force of Chapainawabganj, have been facing three war crimes charges including mass killing, torture, arson and looting.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 led by its chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan is set to deliver its verdict today in a case filed against them for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

According to the first charge, Mahidur and Afsar, accompanied by hundreds of armed Razakars and Pakistani army, attacked Chandshikari, Chamatol, Kabirajtola and Eradot Biswasertola villages in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj on October 6, 1971 and abducted 39 pro-liberation people in two phases.

The detainees were tortured in confinement for information. Among them, 24 people were eventually shot dead by the accused, the first charge read.

According to the second charge, Mahidur and Afsar, accompanied by armed Razakars, launched a systematic attack on Kabirajtola and Eradot Biswasertola on October 13 and looted and burned down houses of the villages. The atrocities also forced many people to leave the country, the charge said.

According to the third charge, the duo along with 30-35 Razakars on November 2 attacked the houses of Kalumuddin Mondol, Abdur Rashid, Gajal and Ilias Mondol of Sherpur Vandar in Shibganj and picked up and tortured them.

The attackers looted and burned their houses before taking detainees to a Razakar camp set up at Adina Fazlul Haque College. Later, they were taken to the army camp at Shibganj office, read the charge.

The detainees were subjected to barbaric torture for whole day and were shot dead at night near a mango orchard of Jagirkot Para the next day.