1971 GENOCIDE TRIAL RP Saha killer to walk the gallows
The International Crimes Tribunal on Wednesday sentenced a Razakar member to death on charge of genocide for killing philanthropist Ranada Prasad Saha, his son Bhabani Prasad Saha, friend Rabi and 58 others during the War of Independence.
The member of auxiliary force of occupation Pakistan military Razakar Bahini, Md Mahbubur Rahman alias Mahbub, 71, of Bairatipara at Mirzapur in Tangail would need to be hanged on three counts of genocide charge.
Tribunal chairman Justice Md Shahinur Islam read out the operative part of the unanimous verdict while two other members Justice Amir Hossain and Justice Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar read out parts of its summary.
The tribunal termed RP Saha ‘a noble philanthropist and a leading person in his community’ and acknowledged that ‘the barbaric annihilation of RP Saha could not bring his dogma and pious thought to an end. RP Saha who sacrificed his life and wealth he achieved for the cause of wellbeing of humanity and advancement of education is still breathing in the noble deeds he contributed.’
The tribunal observed that the justice for Bangladesh war crimes was delayed due to military rule until 1991 after the assassination of the country’s founding president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 and lack of strong political will until 2009.
Mahbub, in a chair in the dock, heard the verdict in a pensive mood.
Arrested on November 7, 2015, Mahbub was indicted on March 28, 2018.
In 1971, Mahbub was a Jamaat-e-Islami member and became a member of the Razakar Bahini.
Mahbub was sentenced to death on charge of genocide for murdering 33 Hindu villagers at Andhara and Baimhati of Mirzapur in Tangail on May 7, 1971.
He got the second death sentence for genocide for abducting, torturing and murdering philanthropist RP Saha, his son Bhabani, friend Gour Gopal Saha, the family’s cattle tender Matlab and a guard on May 7, 1971.
All of them were murdered at RP Saha’s Sirajdikhan Road house in Narayanganj.
The convict got the third death sentence for genocide for murdering 22 Hindu villagers at Andhara, Sarishadair, Durgapur, Kanthalia, Postakumari of Mirzapur in Tangail after torturing them in confinement. The victims were abducted on May 14, 1971.
RP Saha’s grandson Rajib Prasad Saha, immediately after the verdict, expressed his satisfaction over the verdict and the acknowledgement of his grandfather’s sacrifice and contribution to the nation. ‘We are feeling relieved today. Until today, we ran all our institutions with pains in minds.’
Rajib’s mother and martyred Bhabani Prasad Saha’s wife Srimati Saha, in tears, expected early execution of the sentence and said, ‘Truth has established through the verdict.’
Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta, emerging from the tribunal, expressed his satisfaction and said that justice was made for the family of the victims at last.
Defence lawyer Gazi MH Tamim, however, said, ‘My client would appeal against the verdict.’
He said that Mahbub was made accused in three cases under the Collaborators Act in 1972 but he was not found guilty in the cases. ‘Besides, he lived in his village home after the War of Independence and never fled from his area.’
This was the 38th verdict in as many war crimes cases in Bangladesh.
Mahbub’s trial ended on April 24, 2019 with 15 prosecution witnesses testifying his genocide.
No defence witness was produced.
Until now, 88 war criminals were convicted and of them 62 were sentenced to death and 26 were jailed.
Death sentences of six war crimes convicts have so far been executed.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
