KISHOREGANJ WAR CRIMES Hussain, Moslem to die
The three-judge International Crimes Tribunal -1 on Wednesday sentenced Md Moslem Prodhan and Syed Md Hussain alias Hossain to death finding them guilty of committing genocide and other war crimes at different places under Nikli thana in the then Kishoreganj sub-division during the Liberation War.
The presiding judge, Justice Anwarul Haque, pronounced the unanimous verdict while Justice Md Shahinur Islam and
Justice Md Shohrowardi also read out parts of the judgement.
Moslem, 67, looked pensive in the dock as he listened the verdict being delivered.
He is from Kamarhati, Nikli, Kishoreganj.
Hussain, 64, of Machihata, Brahmanbaria Sadar, is still absconding.
During the Liberation War, he lived at Hoybat Nagar, Kishoreganj Sadar police station in the then Kishoreganj sub-division.
The tribunal directed the public security division secretary of the home ministry and the Inspector General of Police to get Hussain arrested, if necessary, with help from the Interpol.
Hussain and Moslem were unanimously handed death sentence as they were found guilty of committing persecuting, torturing and murdering 26 villagers and plundering and setting homes on fire in the village Guruli.
They both were handed life terms for abducting and murdering freedom fighter Abdul Malek.
Hussain was handed death sentence for murdering 34 Hindu villagers and raping Hindu women in Dampara.
Hussain was jailed for seven years for forcibly converting Hindu villagers, another five years for abducting and keeping four villagers confined and 10 years for desecrating and disfiguring two freedom fighters bodies.
His jail terms would run concurrently, said the verdict.
On execution of death sentence, his other conviction would automatically get merged said the verdict.
Later, prosecutor Tureen Afroz and her fellow colleagues in the prosecution team told reporters that they felt professional satisfaction being able to prove the ‘genocidal rape’ charge for the first time.
Defence lawyer Abdus Sattar Palwan said his clients, especially Moslem, was not the Razakar commander in Nikli union as the prosecution made out.
‘In fact, there was no Razakar commander in Nikli union, ’ he said briefing the press after the verdict had been delivered.
‘But we are respectful to the verdict and we will appeal against it,’ he said.
Absconding convict Hussain was a member of Chhatra League, the student wing of Awami League, before the Liberation War.
During the Liberation War, he joined the Pakistan Democratic Party and committed genocide and crimes against humanity at different places under the then Kishoreganj Sub-Division, according to the prosecution.
His eldest brother Syed Md Hachhan alias Syed Md Hasan alias Hachhen Ali was tried in absentia and handed death sentence for committing genocide and crimes against humanity.
The trial was completed on March 7.
This was the 28th verdict in as many war crimes cases in free Bangladesh.
For the ICT-1 it was the 17th verdict.
On May 9, 2016, the duo was indicted.
On June 5, 2016, their trial began.
A total of 23 prosecution witnesses gave evidence against them.
Only one defence witness testified for them.
Until now, 53 war offenders were convicted, 31 of them to death and 22 others were jailed.
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