| Submit your comments on this article |
| Bangladesh |
| 2 held for '71 killing in Rajshahi |
| 2009-02-14 |
| Mohanpur Police yesterday arrested two people in a case filed in connection with killing 15 people during the Liberation War in 1971. Police arrested Daud Hossain, 70, and Nur-e Anwar, 65, at their homes in Bamundighi Berabari of Mohanpur upazila around dawn. Daud is a Jamaat-e Islami activist while Anwar belongs to BNP, said Aminul Islam, Mougachchi union BNP organising secretary. "We are interrogating the arrestees as we had a number of complaints against them. We are also looking for the absconding suspects of the war crime case," said Asaduzzaman Milon, officer-in-charge of Mohanpur Police Station. Seventeen others are also accused in the case. Merajul Islam Sheikh, son of Basir Uddin Sheikh, one of the 15 martyrs, of Birsoil in Shahmakhdum lodged the case with a Rajshahi court on June 22 last year and police recorded the case on September 13. The accused include Shafiullah, Moyeen Uddin, Boyen Uddin of Modanhati, Daud Ali, Nur-e Anwar, Shamsuddin, Sirajul Islam, Motiur Rahman and Awal of Berabari, Alam, Abdul Hai, Abdul Mannan of Mohisbathan, Abu Sayeed of Durgapur, Jan-e Bux, Abdul, Rejbul, Kalim and Kalu of Shahmakhdum. In his complaint, Merajul said the accused were collaborators of Pakistani forces and were engaged in robbery, murder, arson and rape at Modanhati and other villages during the war. On November 30, 1971, they abducted the 15 people who were helping freedom fighters at Bogpara Mugroil of Mohanpur. The next morning, all of them were tied together and shot dead. The 15 martyrs are Nazrul Islam, Idris Ali, Zabibur Rahman, Rashid Sheikh, Jeker Ali Sheikh, Bashir Uddin Sheikh, Mofir Uddin, Fakir Uddin, Yunus Ali, Nuruzzaman, Seku Sardar, Kutub Ali, Meser Ali, Reaz Uddin and Baddyanath Risi. A monument was later erected at the spot. "The war criminals are still alive and they are known as Razakars," said Merajul, who had to move to Rajshahi city as the accused kept on issuing death threats. Now a rickshaw puller, Merajul demanded exemplary punishment for the collaborators. |
| Posted by:Fred |