Shumon Zahid, son of martyred journalist Selina Parvin, yesterday testified that alleged Al-Badr leader Chowdhury Mueen Uddin was among the abductors who took away his mother on December 13, 1971.
Shumon, third prosecution witness in the case against “absconding” Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan, said the duo were also “involved” in abduction and killings of several intellectuals during the Liberation War.
The witness, who was eight in 1971, told the International Crimes Tribunal-2 that he and one of his maternal uncles were present when his mother was taken. His uncle had identified Mueen Uddin as an abductor from newspaper photos.
Selina Parvin became the target of Al-Badr as many pro-liberation writers used to write in her weekly Sheelalipi. She used to spend the money she had earned from the weekly for the treatment of wounded freedom fighters, Shumon said.
“I want justice,” Shumon appealed to the court as tears were rolling down his face. He gave a vivid description of his mother's abduction and torture along with other intellectuals at Mohammadpur Physical Training Centre and murder at Rayerbazar killing ground.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Judge Md Shahinur Islam recorded Shumon's testimony.
State-appointed defence counsel Abdus Shukur Khan cross-examined the prosecution witness for a few minutes. Then the tribunal adjourned the proceeding until today when Shumon is set to face further cross-examination.
The tribunal framed 11 charges against the duo for their alleged involvement in the killing of 18 intellectuals at the fag-end of the Liberation War.
During his 65-minute testimony, fifty-year-old Shumon said his mother had worked in the advertisement department of weekly “Lalana” in 1971 besides her job as the editor and publisher of Sheelalipi.
Besides, Selina Parvin used to write in daily Ittefaq, Purba Pakistani, Purbadesh, weekly Lalana and Begum. She also worked as an assistant of Nurjahan Begum, editor of weekly Begum, added Shumon.
“My mother was not a famous journalist but she was killed by Al-Badr since pro-liberation writers including Prof Munier Chowdhury, journalist Shahidullah Kaiser, Zahir Raihan and ANM Golam Mostafa used to write in her weekly,” he observed.
Around 1:30pm on December 13, 1971, Shumon and his maternal uncle Uzir were on their rooftop and her mother was preparing lunch at their house on 115 New Circular Road [Now 29, Shaheed Journalist Selina Parvin Road].
Suddenly a number of vehicles appeared in front of their house. Shumon and his uncle had seen a jeep, a microbus spattered with mud, and a military truck, which was a little away, said Shumon.
Moments later they had heard the sounds of knocking on the door. Advocate Qamrul Islam Syed Salauddin, who was a lawmaker and lived in an adjacent flat, opened the door, said Shumon, adding that they got down to see those people entering their building.
As Salauddin showed them Selina Parvin's flat, they had knocked on her door and asked her about her identity when she opened the door.
“One of the strangers saw us [Shumon and his uncle] and pointing his gun at us told us 'hands up'. Me and uncle Uzir got down and went beside my mother.”
They had asked Selina Parvin to go to the Secretariat with them, but she refused as she didn't have a curfew pass. But they said it wouldn't matter, said Shumon, adding that when he wanted to accompany her, they did not allow him.
“Faces of the strangers, who were carrying firearms, were covered by mufflers,” added Shumon.
“Keeping her hand on my head, my mother said, 'Shumon, take your lunch with your uncle. I will come back in a few minutes.' This was my mother's last words with me,” said an emotion-chocked Shumon.
The armed strangers wrapped a light towel around her head to cover her eyes, tied her hands and took her away on the microbus, said Shumon.
After independence, Shumon's uncles on December 17 learned from Shamsher Chowdhury, brother of martyr Munier Chowdhury, that Selina's body was found on Rayerbazar killing ground.
Her body was recovered on the following day and she was buried at Azimpur graveyard, said Shumon.
“When I tried to find out the reasons behind the abduction and killing of my mother, I learned that she used to spend the money she had earned from her weekly for the treatment of wounded freedom fighters,” said Shumon.
He also learned that his mother used to write for daily Purbadesh. Chowdhury Mueen Uddin also worked there and used to call Selina “bubu” [sister], said the witness.
“Seeing Mueen Uddin's photograph on the newspapers, uncle Uzir had later said this man [Mueen Uddin] was among the abductors,” said Shumon.
The witness added he had met Delwar Hossain, the lone survivor from Rayerbazar killing ground, in 1996. Delwar told him that his mother along with around 25 people was kept confined at Mohammadpur Physical Training Centre.
“After talking with Delwar Hossain and other sources, I learned that Mueen Uddin was Al-Badr operation in charge and Ashrafuzzaman was also an Al-Badr man. They were involved in the killings of intellectuals,” said Shumon.
In another case against war crimes accused BNP leader Abdul Alim, the tribunal adjourned the proceeding until tomorrow for his illness.