Probe finds 'evidence' of Shakhawat's involvement

Investigators yesterday said they had found “evidence” against former BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shakhawat Hossain and 11 others of their “involvement” in crimes against humanity committed in Jessore during the Liberation War.

They were “involved” in killing two persons, raping one and torturing two others in Keshabpur of Jessore. All the incidents took place in Bangla month of Ashwin (between mid-September and mid-October) in 1971.

The investigation agency would hand over the probe report to the prosecution on June 18, said investigation officer of the case Abdur Razzak Khan.

Shakhawat, 61, now involved in Jatiya Party politics, was a central committee member of Islami Chhatra Sangha, student body of Jamaat-e-Islami in 1971, he added.

According to the investigation agency, Shakhawat was the commander of Pakistani army's auxiliary Razakar force at Chingri Bazar camp.

The investigation officer said they had found the “evidence” of involvement of 11 others during their probe into war crimes allegations against Shakhawat.

Law enforcers arrested Shakhawat at his Uttar Khan's house on November 29 last year. Three of the 11 other war crimes suspects were also arrested on May 12, while the rest are at large.

The three arrestees are Billal Hossain Biswas, 75, of Nehalpur village, Akram Hossain, 59, of Bhalukghar Mollapara and Ajihar Morol, 64, of Chingra village.

War crimes suspects Ibrahim Hossain of Nehalpur, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman and Kazi Ohidul Islam of Shekhpura, Aziz Sardar of Mominpur, Aziz Sardar of Boga, Lutfar Morol of Porchakra, Abdul Khaleq Morol of Altapol and Moshiar Rahman of Chingra could not be arrested.

Probe in the case started on April 1, 2012.

Coordinator of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Investigation Agency Abdul Hannan Khan in a press briefing at the agency office in Dhanmondi revealed the probe findings before the media yesterday.

PROBE FINDINGS

1. At Shakhawat's directive, around 10-12 Razakars forcefully picked up a female SSC examinee of Boga on Ashwin 27 and kept her detained at Chingri Bazar camp for three days. Shakhawat allegedly tortured and raped the girl.

2. On Ashwin 28, Shakhawat accompanied by Razakars caught local Awami League leader Chadtullo Gazi and kept him detained at the Razakar camp for four days. He was later shot dead on the bank of the Kapatakkha river.

3. On Ashwin 28, around 10-12 Razakars upon receiving Shakhawat's instruction picked up Nur Uddin Morol around 7:00am and brutally tortured him at the Razakar camp.

4. On a late Ashwin night, Razakars held a source of freedom fighter Malek Sardar from his house at Hijoldanga and tortured the victim at a torture camp. He was later shot dead around 8:00am on Ashwin 28 near the ferry ghat of Chingri Bazar.

5. At the beginning of Ashwin, Razakars upon receiving Shakhawat's instruction went to capture freedom fighter Miron Sheikh around 10:00am. As Miron tried to escape, Razakars shot him and took him to Chingri Bazar camp. As a result of brutal torture, the victim has become crippled and now moves with the help of a crutch.

Shakhawat's candidature in the Jessore-6 constituency was cancelled over war crimes allegations after Jatiya Party had picked him for the January 5 parliamentary polls in 2014.

According to the investigation agency, Shakhawat went into hiding after independence and resurfaced in 1986 as a local leader of Jamaat. He contested the 1991 parliamentary polls with Jamaat ticket in Jessore-6 and was elected an MP.

Later, he joined BNP and became a lawmaker again in the short-lived parliament formed through the February 15, 1996 elections. When BNP and Jamaat formed an alliance before the 2001 elections, he failed to secure nomination and contested the poll as an independent candidate.

BNP later expelled him on charges of his failure to maintain party disciplines and he joined Jatiya Party afterwards.