Every slaughter charge proved

All the charges of manslaughter levelled against former Al-Badr leaders Ashrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen-Uddin have been proved.

They were being tried for their involvement in the murder of 18 intellectuals during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Justice Obaidul Hassan, on Sunday sentenced them to death in absentia, as the 11 charges brought against them by the prosecution were proved “beyond reasonable doubt”.

Ashrafuzzaman and Mueen were also the central leaders of Chhatra Sangha, an erstwhile student front of the Jamaat-e-Islami.

The verdict said, "In view of above discussion, we are of the unanimous view that there would be failure of justice in case ‘capital punishment’ is not awarded for all the murders forming ‘large scale killing’, as listed in all the charges as the same indubitably trembles the collective conscience of mankind."

Ashrafuzzaman was the “chief planner” and Mueen-Uddin was the “operation in-charge” of abduction and murder of the intellectuals between Dec 11 and Dec 15 in 1971.

The judgment said that 'it was proved by the evidence provided by the prosecution that Ashrafuzzman and Mueen-Uddin were involved with the killings of 18 intellectuals. Sometimes they took part in killings and sometimes lent strong support and encouragement (to murders)'.

It mentioned that the two Chhatra Sangha leaders exercised complete control over Al-Badr during the Liberation War.

Ashrafuzzman is said to be living in the US at present and Mueen-Uddin in the UK.

The judge said the verdict would be executed once the convicts and arrested or they surrendered to the tribunal.

The charges against the two are:

Charge 1

: Journalist Siraj Uddin Hossain was abducted from his Chamelibagh residence in the early hours of Dec 11 in 1971 at the instruction of Ashrafuzzman and Mueen and later killed.

Charge 2

: 8-10 armed Al-Badr men kidnapped PPI Chief Correspondent Syed Nazmul Haque from his Purana Paltan residence in the presence of the two the same night. Later he was killed.

Charge 3

: Daily Purbodesh Chief Correspondent ANM Golam Mostafa was abducted on Dec 11 morning at the instruction of the two men and later killed.

Charge 4

: Armed Al-Badr members kidnapped BBC Correspondent Nizam Uddin Ahmed from his Koltabazar house on Dec 12 at the instruction of the duo and killed.

Charge 5

: Periodical Shilalipi Editor Selina Parvin was abducted from her New Circular Road residence on Dec 13 in presence of Ashrafuzzman and Mueen. Her body was later recovered from the Rayerbazar mass grave.

Charge 6

: Dhaka University teachers Giasuddin Ahmed, Sirajul Haq Khan, Md Mortuza, Abul Khayer, Foyjul Mohiuddin, Rashidul Hassan, Anwar Pasha and Sontosh Bhattacharya were abducted from the campus on Dec 13 in presence of the two and later killed in Mirpur.

Charge 7

: Seven to eight Al-Badr members took away another Dhaka University teacher, Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, on Dec 14 in the presence of the two accused and murdered him. His body was never found.

Charge 8

: Another DU teacher, AM Munier Chowdhury, also a playwright, was abducted from his Central Road residence at the instruction of the duo on Dec 14 and later killed.

Charge 9

: Daily Sangbad Joint Editor Shahidullah Kaiser was kidnapped from his Kayetuli house on 14 Dec evening in the presence of the two accused and murdered.

Charge 10

: Al-Badr members took away physician Fazle Rabbee from his Siddeshwari residence on 15 Dec in presence of Ashrafuzzman and Mueen. He was killed at Rayerbazar.

Charge 11

: Another physician, Alim Chowdhury, was abducted from his Purana Paltan house on Dec 15 following instructions given by the two. His body was recovered from the Rayerbazar killing ground.