The first judgment of the war criminal case. Death sentence order for Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar

The Dhaka Times Desk The International Criminal Tribunal-2 has started the process of announcing the verdict against Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar accused of crimes against humanity in 1971. Sources in the online news agency said that Bachchu Razakar's death sentence has been ordered in the first verdict of the war criminal case.

According to Bangladesh News24, the International Criminal Tribunal-2 has ordered the execution of Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu Razakar, a former member of the Jamaat, for committing crimes against humanity during the liberation war.
A three-member tribunal headed by Chairman Justice Obaidul Hasan Shahin ordered the death sentence for Bachchu Razakar on Monday as the allegations of crimes against humanity were proved.

The verdict against fugitive Bachchu Razakar was the first war crime case. However, it was not possible to produce Bachchu Razakar in the tribunal as he was absconding. Before the arrest warrant was issued against him, he escaped through India and went to Pakistan, according to the law and order forces. The entire judicial process of Bachchu Razakar was thus completed in his absence.
On December 26 last year, the judicial process of the case ended with the presentation of arguments by both sides. After that, the tribunal ordered to keep the verdict pending (CAV) in this case.

First verdict, first execution

The International Criminal Tribunal was formed on March 25, 2010 to try crimes against humanity during the Great War of Liberation. International Crimes Tribunal-2 was formed on March 22 of last year after two years of the formation of the first tribunal. The proceedings of the second tribunal were initiated with the case of Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu Razakar. As such, after 3 and a half years of formation, the tribunal announced the verdict of the first case. And the second tribunal completed the trial of the first case that came to them only after 10 months.

On the other hand, according to the International Criminal Tribunal Act'1973, the maximum sentence for war crimes is death. And in the verdict of the first case, the first accused got the sentence. The prosecutors of the state side of the tribunal involved in the trial process expressed their satisfaction as the maximum sentence was ordered in the verdict of the first case.
On December 26, the accused finished presenting arguments on behalf of Bachchu Razakar. Advocate Abdus Shukur Khan, appointed by the tribunal, presented arguments on behalf of Bachchu Razakar. Then the state prosecutor Syed Haider Ali presented arguments on legal points. He also gave the closing statement by arguing the arguments of the accused. Before this, on two working days on December 23 and 24, another prosecutor, Advocate Sahidur Rahman, presented arguments for the state regarding various allegations against Bachchu Razakar. And the judicial process of the crime against humanity case against Bachchu Razakar ended with the presentation of arguments by the accused on December 24 and 26.

Prosecutor Sahidur Rahman later told reporters, “A total of eight charges were filed against Abul Kalam Azad. We have presented evidence on that. And have been able to prove these crimes.”
He said, "Legal arguments have also been presented after presenting the necessary evidence and information to prove the charges brought against Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu Razakar." "We have sought maximum punishment from the tribunal against the accused."

The judicial process against the two has ended with the closure of Bachchu Razakar's case. Earlier on January 7, the judicial process of Jamaat's Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molya's case was also completed in the same tribunal. The tribunal will announce the verdict in Quader Molya's case any day.
On the other hand, on December 6, the arguments of both sides were presented in the case of Jamaat Naib Amir Delaware Hossain Saeedi in Tribunal-1. However, the tribunal is hearing the arguments in this case again. According to the law, the verdict date of Saeedee's case will be announced soon.

Successive judicial proceedings of the case

As the first judicial action after the formation of Tribunal-2, on March 25 last year, Bachchu ordered the state party to submit a progress report on the investigation against Razakar. As per the order, the prosecution filed its investigation progress report on April 2 against him. At the same time, the state party also applied for the issuance of arrest warrant against Bachchu Razakar.
It should be noted that the investigation against Bachchu Razakar was started on April 10 last year.
After the hearing of the state's application, the tribunal ordered Bachchu Razakar to be arrested on April 3 and produced before the court within 24 hours. Before that, Bachchu Razakar escaped to Pakistan through India, avoiding the eyes of law and order forces. As a result, the police raided his Uttara house in the capital that day but failed to arrest him.
After completing the investigation against Bachchu Razakar on July 26, the investigation agency submitted the investigation report (formal complaint) to the prosecution.
On September 9, the tribunal took into account the official complaint against Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu Razakar. In the official complaint, a total of 448 pages of charges were filed against him based on 22 charges in 10 cases of crimes against humanity including murder, genocide, rape, deportation and apostasy.

On September 23, the tribunal issued a notice against Bachchu Razakar through a newspaper notice. And on October 7, the tribunal ordered Abul Kalam Azad to fight legal battles on his behalf at the expense of the government. Abdus appointed Shukur Khan as a lawyer.
On November 4, the tribunal formed a charge against fugitive Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu Razakar based on 22 incidents out of 8 charges.

On November 26, the prosecution presented its opening statement against Bachchu Razakar. From that day until December 19, a total of 22 state witnesses testified against him.
The investigation officer was among the witnesses. Noor Hossain and witness to the seizure list is Bangladesh Press Institute (PIB) book shorter SM Amirmanal Islam. And 20 witnesses of the incident are - Nepal Chandra Pathak, Jotsna Rani Das, wife of martyr Chittaranjan Das by Bachchu Razakar, Md Mojaher Sikdar, Md Dhala Matubbar, Ranjit Kumar Nath Babu, Ranjan Biswas son of martyr Madhav Biswas, freedom fighter Amir Hossain, Prafulsan Ranjan Mall, Nagen Chandra Mall, Primary School Teacher Tush Kumar Mall, Dev Kumar Das, Roshan Ali Biswas, A Victim Woman (Camera Trial), Vinod Chandra Biswas, Prabodh Kumar Sarkar, Abdul Mannan, Martyr's Family Members Sushil Kumar Poddar, Abu Yusuf Siddiqui Pakhi, Satya Ranjan Saha and Asit Baran Saha. All their houses are in different areas of Faridpur. Tribunal-appointed lawyer Abdus Shukur Khan of Bachchu Razakar completed their cross-examination. On the other hand, since the accused could not provide a list of witnesses, the tribunal ordered the presentation of arguments on behalf of Bachchu Razakar without evidence. On December 23, 24 and 26, the state and the accused presented arguments on December 24 and 26.

Who is this Bachchu Razakar?

Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar's village home is in Barakhardiya village of Saltha Upazila of Faridpur district. He was born on March 5, 1947. His father's name is late Abdus Salam Miah. Until he escaped, he was living in Uttarkhan in Uttara of the capital. Abul Kalam Azad studied at Rajendra College, Faridpur. At that time, this Abul Kalam Azad was a member of the Faridpur District Committee of the Higher Secondary Students' Association.

During the war of liberation, he took the responsibility of first Razakar and later the head of the Albadar army in Faridpur district as an assistant to the Pakistani invading forces. Although he was once a member of Jamaat, he is not associated with any political party at present.

According to the complaint against Bachchu Razakar, Abul Kalam could speak good Urdu due to his education in Azad Madrasa. With a view to capitalize on this to unjustly gain and pursue nefarious ambitions, he and East Pakistan Students' Union leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid tried to win over the Pakistani army officers from the early days of the War of Independence. Mujahid and Bachchu Razakar welcomed the Pakistani invasion forces when they arrived in Faridpur city on 21 April. On that day, Pakistani army entered Faridpur on April 21, 1971 in their presence. On that day, Azad killed 8 priests of Jagadbandhu Ashram in Faridpur along with them. Later killed Sudhanshu Mohan Roy and his son Monimoy Roy, zamindar of Kalaran village. After the night of 25th March, he raised a force himself, who later committed crimes against humanity in various parts of Faridpur.

Under the leadership of Bachchu Razakar, during the liberation war of 1971, Razakar and later Albadar Bahini were formed in the city of Faridpur in the first half of May. He was the Commander (Leader) of District Albadar and Razakar.
Bachchu Razakar received weapons training from Pakistani forces at Faridpur Policeline, received weapons from Pakistani raiders.

All the complaints against Bachchu Razakar

Bachchu Razakar's style of torture was peculiar. With the help of Mujahideen, on the instructions of Bachchu, the Pakistani army killed innocent people inside the stadium and buried the ground inside the stadium. Many dead bodies were dumped in the river and in garbage dumps in Faridpur city. Senior eyewitnesses claim that there are 1,200 mass graves in one Faridpur stadium and its surrounding area.

Besides, Bachchu Razakar and his gang looted village after village. killed people The girls were raped and abducted and handed over to the Pakistani occupation forces. Set fire and forced minority Hindus to flee to India. The Hindus in the country were converted and forced to pray.

Apart from the city of Faridpur, the Hindu villages of Phulbaria, Jaganandi, Wazirpur, Srinagar, Hashemdia and Moindia around his home village of Barakhardia were victims of crimes against humanity at the hands of Bachchu Razakar. There were hardly any houses of Hindus in those villages. Because, Bachchu and his people looted and burnt all the goods.

In all, Bachchu Razakar was accused of killing 14 people, raping 3 women, abducting 9 people, detaining 10 people, setting fire to 5 houses, looting 15 houses, converting 9 people, forcing people to leave the country, and committing crimes against humanity against unknown people. . Among them, on May 5, 1971, at 7 am, a group of Razakars led by Bachchu entered Jayakali village of Saltha police station (then under Nagarkanda police station) in Faridpur district. Innocent people of the village were victims of his massacre and torture.

According to the complaint, on May 18, Bachchu and his accomplice 7/8 armed Razakar attacked the house of Gurman Das in Uzirpur Bazarpara village of Saltha police station. Gurmna Dash's daughter Anjali Dash (18) was abducted and tortured by Bachchu's father-in-law Chan Kazi's house in Khardia village to fulfill his evil lust. Anjali Das was released from Bachchu Razakar's custody after 7/8 days, but on the same day Bachchu's associate Mohammad Kazi appeared at Gurman Das's house along with another unidentified companion. Anjali is pressured to hand over to him.

Then Anjali Das entered their house out of fear and committed suicide by drinking poison. When the house started crying, Mohammad Kazi left with the people who were with him. After receiving this news, Bachchu Razaka came to Guru Das Bari later that evening with some of his companions. Anjali ordered Dash's body to be buried in the ground quickly. Guru Das was forced to bribe Bachchu Razakar with two thousand rupees and allowed Anjali Das to be cremated according to Hindu religion.

After 10 days of this incident, Bachchu Razakar along with 10/15 armed Razakars and some accomplices came to Guru Das' house and broke a big L pattern tin house in his house and took it to Chan Kazi's house. A few days after that incident, Gurman Das was forced to take refuge in India as a refugee with his family fearing for his life. Bachchu Razakar led several massacres in Faridpur.

According to the complaint, around 6 am on May 17, Bachchu Razakar entered the Hasamdia Hinduparad of Boalmari with his forces including 30/32 Pakistani soldiers in a big boat. On entering the village, Sarat Chandra Poddar, Suresh Poddar, Shyamapad Saha, Jatindra Mohan Saha, Neelratan Samaddar were shot dead. They shot dead Subal Kayal and Molysnak Chakraborty. Then Bachchu Razakar with his team Hiralal Saha, Surya Kumar, Neel Ratan Samaddar, Dr. Nani Gopal Saha, Asit Baran Saha, Satya Ranjan Saha, Subal Saha, Makhan Lal Saha, Jatindra Nath Saha, Narayan Chandra Saha, Kalipad Saha, Dr. Mukund Lal Saha and Ram Kanai set fire to 50/60 shops and houses including Babu's warehouse. Valuables were looted from shops and houses before setting them on fire.

On May 20, Bachchu Razakar attacked Teljuri village of Boalmari Police Station with his forces. Dr. Hasamdia there. Nani Gopal Saha and her brother Subal Saha along with their family took shelter in Barkat Mridha's house. Bachchu Razakar and his associates surrounded Dr. Barkat Mridha's house. Nani Gopal's wife Kanak Lata Saha, his brother Subal Saha's wife Anima Rani Saha along with their two nieces took shelter with them and detained them at the house of her father-in-law Chan Kazi of Saltha police station. They were tortured there. Bachchu Razakar and his accomplices forcefully left Kanak Lata and Anima Rani's gold jewellery.

Dr. On the request of Nani Gopal Saha, Abul Hossain (now deceased) of Hasamdia village lobbied and rescued the arrested Kanak Lata Saha, Anima Saha and others from the custody of Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar and his gang. Then Dr. Nani Gopal Saha and her brother Subal Saha took shelter in India along with their family members. After the independence of the country, they came to their homes and got nothing but the soil.

The complaint further states that Bachchu Razakar along with some of his accomplices took Haripad Saha, Praveer Kumar Saha alias Puitta of Moindia village in Bowlmari to the river ghat in Moindia Bazar. There Bachchu Razakar himself shot and killed both. Then their bodies were floated in the river. Bachchu Razakar and Pakistani soldiers left by boat with looted goods. When many Hindu community people of that village were forced to leave the country, they sought refuge in India to save their lives.

On the other hand, the minority Hindu people of Jayakali village, including Dulal Maitra, a victim of genocide at his hands, used to flee to the bush in fear of their lives. Dulal Maitra's cousin Mukul Maitra was working in Barisal as police habildar. Mukul Maitra escaped when the Pakistani army launched an attack on the Bengalis. On May 5, 1971, armed 7/8 Pakistani Army associates including Bachchu Razakar came to Dulal Maitra's house in Jayakali village around seven o'clock in the morning. His cousin Mukul searches for Maitra. Dulal arrested Maitra along with his father and uncle. At this time, Dulal Maitra took the opportunity and ran away.

At that time, Bachchu Razakar and his gang looted the money, gold ornaments and various valuables from the house of other members of Dulal Maitra's house. A puja house with a large tin house in the said house was set on fire and 30/32 houses were burnt. The Pakistani Army had hidden some brass furniture of Dulal Maitra's house in the neighbor Kader Matbar's house before the incident. Then Bachchu and his gang entered Kader Matbar's house and looted the brass articles in his house. He was tied to a pole in the courtyard of the house and hit his chest with a rifle, breaking his collarbone and leaving injured.

On the same day, Bachchu Razakar and his gang entered the house of Mohanbasi in Jayakali village and looted it. A pooja burns 10/12 houses with m-pa. Fearing Bachchu Razakar and his associates, the minority Hindu community of Jayakali village took refuge in India. 5/6 Razakars led by Bachchu Razakars entered Balai Babu's house on May 4 in East Saltha village of Faridpur district. There, 20 to 25 Hindus were detained in kachari houses and forced to convert to Islam by threatening them with death. Apart from this, Bachchu Razakar led the massacre in Hamamdia and Maindia market.

According to the charge sheet, on May 16, 1971, around 8 a.m., Razakar's forces led by Bachchu Razakar entered Saltha Saha Para. Going there, Bachchu Razakar Balai captured 20 to 25 Hindus in Babu's Kachari house. Threatens them to convert to Islam by threatening them with death. Bachchu Razakar gives everyone a white hat. By teaching Kalema, Siddheshwar Chandra Saha, Haridash Poddar, Dulal Saha, Abhi Saha, Paju Saha, Vinay Saha, Nanda Saha, Bishu Bhuiya and Kalipada Saha forced everyone present to convert to Islam.

Apart from this, saying Bachchu forced the Hindu children to learn Arabic in Babu's Kachari house. On May 16, 1971, around 10 am, Bachchu Razakar along with his accomplice 10/12 John Razakar again came and looted the house of Balaram Saha alias Balai Babu. His daughter's son-in-law Khagendra Nath looted 11 cloth gates kept by Saha. On the same day around 11 am, Bachchu Razakar along with his gang entered the residence of Harendra Nath Baksi alias Montu Baksi and Ashwina Mall. There, Bachchu Razakar looted valuables from this house. After the looting, the houses of Montu Baksi and Ashwina Mondal were set on fire. It has been said in the complaint that Montu Baksi and Ashwina Mandal are Awami League. They are pro-independence people. So Bachchu Razakar took his gang and looted their houses and set them on fire.

All charges brought by the Prosecution against Bachchu Razakar include, Section 3(2) (a) (c-i) (g) (h) and 4(1) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 committing the crime of genocide. .The most famous torture cell of Faridpur was working together with Faridpur stadium and village house where torture was done.Bachchu Razakar received weapons from Pakistani invaders with weapons training in Faridpur police line near Pak army. Rajakar established a training center by occupying a two-storey house at Hira Lal Muktar on Jasim Uddin Road in Faridpur town. At his signal, Pakistani soldiers killed thousands of innocent people inside the stadium and buried the ground inside the stadium. Many bodies were thrown in the river and in the dustbin of Faridpur city. On May 10, 1971, Hasamdia entered the village and looted the belongings of Hindupara and set fire to 40/50 houses. There, 9 people including Yogeshwar Saha were shot dead. One was bound and thrown into a burning fire. In the west of the market, Pakistani soldiers shot dead two people named Subal Kayal and Molinsnak Thakur. On May 16, 1971, Bachchu Razakar along with his brother-in-law Mohammad Kazi, unidentified 10/12 Razakar looted money and gold ornaments from the house of Montu Bakshi and Ashwinya Mall of East Saltha village under Madhya Salitha (formerly Nagarkanda) Thana around 12 noon. The Poormans attacked Biswas' house in the village and kidnapped Madhav Biswas. Bachchu Razakar himself shot and killed Sudhanshu Mohan. Monimoy Roy Kest was injured in the firing that day. In the last week of May, Bachchu Razakar along with his accomplice abducted Jiban Chakraborty of Doharnagar village of Boalmari police station and shot them to death in public under a banyan tree in the nearby Rupapat Bazar. On June 8 between 12 noon and 2 am, 14/15 armed men, including Kashem Munshi Razakar of Bachchu Razakar division, raided the house of Sudhir Biswas of Boalmari Natibdia village and took away 2 women along with looting gold ornaments. Later, Bachchu Razakar and his accomplices took turns to rape. On August 8 at 5 pm, Bachchu Razakar captured Kabir Ahmed Manzoor from in front of Faridpur Chawkbazar Mosque and handed him over to the Pakistan Army. On August 21, he was shot dead at Harmankandi (Kaizuri) on the Faridpur to Barisal road. 'Abul Kalam Azad is the direct killer of thousands of people who are lying in 12 slaughterhouses in Faridpur city. He himself shot and killed many people. Killed and buried in Faridpur Stadium, thrown in the river, buried in different parts of the city.