News of jubilation also poured in from various parts of the
country as the families suffering during the Independence War of 1971 celebrated
the long-awaited day. They also demanded that the fugitive convicted war
criminal be brought back and executed at the earliest.
The second
International Crimes Tribunal on Monday ordered that Abul Kalam Azad be hanged
until death for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.
Hailing from
Borokhardia village of Nagarkanda upazila in Faridpur, Azad is locally known as
Bachchu Razakar for his war-time role, and the court found him guilty on seven
counts.
He lead the Pakistan occupation Army’s collaborative force
Razakar Bahini in unleashing a reign of terror at Nagarkanda and Salkha upazilas
in the district to thwart the Independence War.
The court said it was
proved beyond doubt that Bachchu had killed Chittaranjan Das, a man belonging to
Hindu minority community, of Fulbaria during the war.
Das’s wife Jyostna
Rani Das could not find the appropriate words to express how she felt after she
learned about the verdict.
She only said, “I will be happy to see that
the killer of my husband is hanged.”
“Abul Kalam Azad shot my father dead
with his own hands. I was born an orphan,” said Das’s son Gopal Chandra
Das.
He could not hold back his tears as his wait for justice took 41
years of his life.
“I demand of the government that the absconding Abul
Kalam Azad be arrested and the verdict be executed. The soul of my father may
then find some peace.”
A group of 10-12 members of Razakar Bahini lead by
Bachchu shot Chittaranjan Das dead as they carried out atrocities at Hindupara
on Jun 3 of 1971.
Madhab Chandra Biswas of Purura village at Salkha was
also killed by Azad during another attack.
“We got the verdict as we had
expected. Now we demand that the government implement the verdict without any
delay.”
A local freedom fighter Moulana Fayezur Rahman was also happy
like others.
“Abul Kalam Azad was involved in rape and killing during the
Independence War. Although late, justice has finally been served. But the
verdict has to be carried out.”
Awami League took out processions in
Faridpur, Nagarkanda and Salkha cities immediately after the verdict was
delivered. A bounty of Tk 1 million was announced from one of the rallies for
information leading to Bachchu’s capture.
The ICT had ordered Azad’s
trial in his absence as he did not turn up despite several notices by the
court.
