Shyamoli Nasrin’s tearful testimony

Intellectual Dr AFM Alim Chowdhury was taken away from his home in 1971 on the orders of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Shyamoli Nasrin Chowdhury has said in her testimony.

She testified as the 13th witness against Nizami standing trial for charges of crimes against humanity at International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Wednesday.

Shyamoli Nasrin said she used to live in a rented house in 29/1 Purana Paltan in 1971, along with her husband – a prominent eye specialist – two daughters, ailing mother and father, younger sister and two brothers. The two brothers later joined the Liberation War.

Maulana Mannan – owner of Daily Inquilab – came to seek refuge in the middle of July that year.

Alim Chowdhury initially did not want to grant the stranger refuge but their neighbour, one Matin, made a recommendation upon which Maulana Mannan and his family were given the shelter.

Shyamoli Nasrin said within a few days their house was filled with the furniture from Mannan’s house and men from the Pakistani Army began to pay him visits. He spoke to the landlord and rented a floor of the house.

“I saw that some armed men in grey pants and blue shirts began to guard the entire house starting from Aug 2 or Aug 3, 1971. Doctor Alim asked Mannan upon which he learned that Mannan is an organiser of Al-Badr and the armed men are Al-Badr members.

“My husband was frightened and said ‘let them guard your door, why my gate?’ Mannan then said ‘the freedom fighters will kill me, so the security. Freedom fighters will enter through your gate’.”

Shyamoli Nasrin by that time was aware that members of Islami Chhatra Shangha formed the Al-Badr militia, who are working against the liberation of Bangladesh. Not only that, they were working hand in hand with the Pakistani Army in committing murders, rape and loots.

“Maulana Mannan always told us to not have fear, ‘you gave me shelter, you should not be afraid. I will keep you safe’.”

Dr Alim Chowdhury was taken from his home in the morning of Dec 15. Shyamoli Nasrin described the incident.

“Indian fighter jets were bombing Dhaka at around 4pm in the afternoon. My husband and I were watching the bombing from our balcony and were excited with the thought that the Pakistani Army may surrender very soon.

“There was a curfew. I heard the sound of a vehicle and saw a microbus covered with mud stop in front of Maulana Mannan’s gate.

“After 30 to 35 minutes I heard loud noises from outside our gate telling us to open the door. From the window I saw two to three armed Al-Badr men kicking our gate.”

Shyamoli Nasrin asked her husband, who told her to open the door.

“I saw my husband wanting to run downstairs. I stopped him and he said he was going to Mannan. He always used to say I have no fear, he will keep me safe.

“My husband was knocking on his door anxiously and he (Mannan) slightly opened it to say ‘you go, I am with you.’ My husband tried to come back upstairs but could not. By that time the Al-Badr men were inside and they asked him to put his hands up.

“At one point my husband asked them ‘what is the matter?’ They said ‘we will know once you come along. This is an order by Al-Badr high command Nizami. My husband wanted to change his clothes but they said it was not necessary. Then they put a blindfold over his eyes and took him away.”

She ran to Mannan for help. He said, “Don’t be frightened, they are taking your husband due to the order given by the Al-Badr’s high command. They have taken Dr Fazle Rabbi too.”

When Shyamoli Nasrin asked where they were being taken Mannan replied with annoyance, “There is bombing everywhere. He is being taken so he can provide treatment.” When asked when Dr Alim will be brought back Mannan said he will be returned once the work is done.

She searched for Dr Alim in various places after the country was liberated on Dec 16. On Dec 17 she learned that those who were taken were no longer alive.

On Dec 18 they got to know that his dead body was found at Rayerbazar mass grave and Dr Alim’s younger brother Hafiz Chowdhury, chamber assistants ‘Hakim’ and ‘Momin’ along with several relatives went there and brought his body home. There they found the bodies of Dr Fazle Rabbi and journalist Selina Parvin.

“His hands were tied with rope and his eyes were tied with a gamcha. He had bayonet wounds all over his body. His chest was tattered with numerous bullets.”

Shyamoli Nasrin broke down in tears at this point of the testimony.

“How can someone kill another human being like that?” the former principal of Udayan School wondered.

The court was submerged in silence. Some judges were seen wiping their tears.

Shyamoli Nasrin said Alim Chowdhury helped freedom fighters in different ways, including sheltering them in their house.

There were some clandestine hospitals where he and Fazle Rabbi would treat freedom fighters, she added.

Syed Nazrul Islam, one of the main organisers of the Liberation War, took shelters in their house on Mar 25, 1971 and he was secretly sent home two days later when curfew was withdrawn.

Nazrul Islam, who became the Deputy President of the war-time Mujibnagar government, was killed on Nov 4, 1975 in jail. His son Syed Ashraful Islam is the General Secretary of Awami League and Local Government Minister.

The award-winning educationist told the tribunal: “I have been waiting for 42 years for this trial. I demand capital punishment to all the Al-Badr (people) and Al-Badr high command who killed intellectuals including my husband.”

Defence lawyer Mizanul Islam cross-examined her after the deposition.

She said she first saw Nizami at the tribunal but mentioned that he was identified as Al-Badr Commander and Pakistan Al-Badr high command in a news published on Jamaat-e-Islami mouthpiece Daily Sangram in 1971.

To a question, Shyamoli Nasrin said she and her family had been living in a Purana Paltan house since 1969. They were staying in the house, owned by Engineer Ziaul Kabir who was living in a different area, for two more years after independence.

Answering another query, she said Maulana Mannan took shelter in their house with his wife and four children.

The tribunal postponed the hearing until Thursday with the cross-examination remaining unfinished.

The recording of deposition of prosecution witnesses against Nizami began on Aug 26 last year.

Charges were framed against Nizami in May last year for his alleged involvement in 16 incidents of murder, loot, rape and killing of intellectuals during the War of Independence from Pakistan

He was arrested on Jun 29, 2010 in a case over hurting religious sentiment and shown arrested on Aug 2 for his alleged link with crimes against humanity during the war.