War trial: Jabbar verdict any day

Abdul Jabbar

A tribunal in Dhaka will deliver its verdict any day against fugitive war crimes suspect Abdul Jabbar, a former Jatiya Party lawmaker, for his alleged crimes against humanity during the country’s Liberation War.

Jabbar, who was chairman of Mathbaria Peace Committee in Pirojpur in 1971, is facing five charges including murder, mass killing, looting and forced conversion for his wartime offences.

The accused had allegedly played a key role in the formation of Razakar Bhahini, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army, and had led the force in committing crimes in Mathbaria.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by its Chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim kept the verdict waiting today after concluding hearing the arguments placed by both the prosecution and defence.

The tribunal on August 13 framed five charges against the former JP lawmaker.

During the trial proceedings, prosecution sought capital punishment for Jabbar during the closing argument while defence prayed for their client’s acquittal of the charges.

At total of 24 witnesses, including investigation officer of the case, testified against Jabbar.

According to the indictment order, Jabbar along with his accomplices forcefully converted 200 Hindus of Phuljhuri to Islam in the last week of May 1971.

On October 6, 1971, Jabbar and his cohorts detained 37 people of Angulkata and Mothbaria villages, said Justice Rahim. Of them, 22 were later killed and others injured.

Jabbar abetted and facilitated the killing of two freedom fighters of Phuljhuri, he added. He was also involved in the killing of one person and setting fire to 360 houses of the same village.

Besides, Jabbar was charged for his involvement in the killing of 11 people, and looting of and setting fire to 60 houses at Noli village of Pirojpur.

Accused in a case under collaborators' act, he went into hiding after the war and remained a fugitive till the political changeover of August 15, 1975. Jabbar then became active in politics and was elected lawmaker from Mathbaria in 1986 and 1988 with Jatiya Party ticket.

Family members of the martyrs of 1971, freedom fighters and locals of Mathbaria protested when he was given grand alliance ticket for the 2008 election.

Jabbar has been on the run since 2009, according to the war crimes investigation agency.

The prosecution on May 11 submitted formal charges against Jabbar.