Subhan verdict tomorrow

A tribunal in Dhaka will deliver its verdict tomorrow on Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan for his alleged crimes against humanity committed during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.
Subhan, the alleged vice-chairman of anti-liberation Peace Committee in Pabna in 1971, faces nine charges including killing and genocide committed the district.
International Crimes Tribunal-2 Chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan today fixed tomorrow for delivering the verdict.
A nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat, Subhan was the founding ameer of the party in Pabna and a Majlish-e-Sura member of the united Pakistan Jamaat during the war in 1971. He organised the Razakars in Pabna, according to the prosecution.
The charges brought against him are based on incidents that took place in Pabna between April 13 and October 30 in 1971, in which several hundred people were killed.
Subhan, son of Sheikh Naimuddin and Nurani Begum of Tailakundi village of Sujanagar upazila in Pabna, was the general secretary of Pabna Peace Committee, according to the prosecution. Later, he was promoted to the vice-chairman of the associate body of the Pakistan army in 1971.
He was elected unopposed as a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1971 when the nation was engaged in a battle against the Pakistan army and its local collaborators.
Subhan fled to Pakistan towards the end of the war, prosecution evidence says.
The tribunal ended the case proceedings against him on December 4, 2014 and kept it waiting for verdict delivery.
Law enforcers arrested Subhan on September 20, 2012, and after a 17-month-long probe, the war crimes investigation agency submitted its probe report to the prosecution on September 12, 2013. Three days later, the prosecution submitted formal charges.
Tribunal-1 on December 31, 2013 framed nine war crimes charges against Subhan. Later, the case was moved to Tribunal-2.
The most notable of the nine charges brought against Subhan is for the killing of 300-400 people by the Pakistan army and its local collaborators under his alleged leadership in several villages of Satbaria union on May 12, 1971.
The prosecution produced 31 witnesses, including two investigation officers, and documents to prove the charges. The defence did not produce any witnesses saying that they did not feel the need.
The prosecution sought the death penalty for Subhan claiming that they had been able to prove all nine charges. They also prayed for adequate compensation for the victims.
If convicted, the octogenarian politician may face the death penalty for the crimes he allegedly committed 43 years ago.
The ICT-2 chief announced fixed the date for verdict delivery before starting recording depositions of the witnesses in another war crimes case against Forkan Mallik.

CHARGES AGAINST SUBHAN

The most notable of the nine charges brought against Subhan is killing of 300-400 people including Hindus by the Pakistani army and its local collaborators under his leadership at several villages in Satbaria union of Sujanagar upazila on May 12, 1971.
Other charges brought against Subhan include killing of five and injuring three others in his presence and under his leadership at Juktitala village in Ishwardi on April 13, 1971.
Accompanied by local Jamaat leaders and Biharis, Subhan abducted three persons, who had taken shelter in a local mosque, on April 17-18 in 1971.  Later, they were killed before him.
Led by Subhan, the Pakistani army raided Sahapur village in Ishwardi on May 2, 1971 and killed five people and looted several houses before setting those on fire.
Subhan allegedly abducted two persons from Arankhola cattle market in Ishwardi on May 16, 1971. The hostages were tortured at District Dak Bungalow in Ishwardi.
The Jamaat leader also led the Pakistani army in alleged attacks on Kulniya and Dogachi villages in Pabna sadar on May 11, 1971. Five people were killed and several houses were torched at that time.
On May 20, 1971, under the leadership of Subhan, the Pakistani army allegedly picked up 18 people from Varara village in Pabna and killed one of them instantly. Others had been tortured at Nurpur Power Plant. Later, some of them were killed near Debottar Bazar.
At least 18 people were killed in the incident.
In the first week of September, Subhan, accompanied by local Razakars, abducted two pro-liberation persons from Dublia Bazar under Pabna sadar and killed them inside a temple at Kuchiamara village.
On October 30, 1971, Subhan and local Razakars attacked Betbaria village in Ishwardi and looted several houses before setting those on fire. Four people were also abducted from the village and later killed.