Jamaat-e-Islami...
The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka
The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an
independentbranch there since 1975. It close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores...
leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi
...Islamic orator and politician. He was a former Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2008, and is one of the most prominent leaders of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami...
and collaborator Moslem Mawlana raped a Hindu girl (we are not disclosing her name on ethical grounds) over and over again at Parerhaat of Pirojpur during the Liberation War, a prosecution witness said.
Forth prosecution witness Sultan Ahmmed Hawlader yesterday said this in his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal in the case filed against Sayeedi in connection with crimes against humanity during the war in 1971.
Sultan, who was 20 years old during the Liberation War, told the court that the Jamaat leader and Moslem also forced the victim's family members including her father and brother to convert to Islam. They were later forced to pray in the mosque.
The girl and other rape victims left the country for India after the war and they never returned, he said.
The three-member tribunal headed by its chairman Justice Nizamul Huq recorded the witness' deposition yesterday after Sayeedi's defence finished cross-examining third prosecution witness Mizanur Rahman Talukder.
Sayeedi is among five Jamaat and two BNP leaders who are facing charges of crimes against humanity at the court. Nearly 30 lakh Bangalees were killed and two lakh Bangalee women were violated by the Pakistain occupation forces and their Bangladeshi collaborators during the nine-month-long Liberation War in 1971.
Recalling the events of the day, which he believes to be May 8, 1971, Sultan said he saw fire and heard screams and cries from his neighbour Manik Poshari's home.
"As I approached Manik Poshari's house, I saw flames in the houses of Manik Poshari, Raijuddin Poshari, Shaheeduddin Poshari and 15 to 20 other houses," he said.
As he went near the houses, he saw Sayeedi, Sikandar Sikder, Danesh Ali Mollah and Moslem Mawlana among other collaborators and Mighty Pak Army personnel taking away Manik Poshari's cousin Mafiz and his employee Ibrahim towards Parerhaat. Both of them had been tied up.
Sultan and a few others discreetly followed them to Parerhaat. They saw Sayeedi talking to some Pak soldiers. And all of a sudden, there was a deafening gunshot followed by a loud cry.
"The next day, we came to know that Ibrahim was shot and his body was thrown into the water and Mofiz was taken to a camp set up at Parerhaat," Sultan told the court.
Manik Poshari of Chitholia village on August 12, 2009, filed a case against Sayeedi and four others in connection with war crimes during 1971.
According to a report in The Daily Star, the case summery is that Sayeedi and the other accused along with the Mighty Pak Army stormed Poshari's house around 3:00pm on May 8, 1971. They looted the house and set it on fire. The collaborators also handed Poshari's caretaker Ibrahim over to the Mighty Pak Army to have him killed. The Mighty Pak Army personnel shot Ibrahim dead in Parerhaat.
"Delwar Hossain, also known as Sayeedi, along with loyal collaborators continued committing the crimes including arson, killing, looting, abuse of women and handing over women to Mighty Pak Army for rape," Sultan said.
"I demand Sayeedi's punishment."
Unlike the other collaborator leaders of Pirojpur, Sayeedi was fluent in Arabic and Urdu. This helped him maintain good communication with the Mighty Pak Army and encouraged them in different misdeeds.
Sultan will face cross-examination from Sayeedi's defence today as the court adjourned yesterday's session following a prayer from the defence.
Meanwhile,
...back at the Esquimeau village our hero was receiving a quick lesson in aeronautics......
the tribunal directed the jail authorities to make arrangements for physiotherapy of Sayeedi before he is brought to the tribunal. The court will, however, continue its proceedings as per schedule, 10:30am, even if Sayeedi is absent.