Yusuf ordered killing of Hindus: witness

Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf had ordered the killing of 500 to 600 Hindus in Bagerhat during the Liberation War, the second war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh heard on Sunday.

Testifying as the 13th prosecution witness, Sudhangshu Mandal graphically described how Yusuf had instigated his fellow 'Razakars' - collaborators of the Pakistani army - to loot and kill the minorities.

Yusuf had attended a gathering of a 'Peace Committee' – formed to collaborate with the Pakistan occupation army – on Apr 19, 1971 at the Rampal auditorium with 30-35 of his followers.

"They chanted 'Pakistan Zindabad' (long live Pakistan), AKM Yusuf Ali Zindabad' as they got down from a launch," said Mandal.

In his speech, Yusuf had ordered the killing of 'malauns' – a derogatory term for Hindus.

"This country is for Muslims, not for the Hindus," the witness quoted Yusuf as telling the gathering.

"Hindu women and everything belonging to them are the spoils of war. You (the Razakars) can enjoy them, there's no crime in it," Yusuf had said.

Mandal, the 59-year old freedom fighter, said the Jamaat leader had finished his speech with the inflammatory remark: "Exterminate the 'malauns' and enjoy your loot."

Mandal, a farmer from Tengramari village in Rampal, was the member of the 'Sangram Parishad' during the War.

As Yusuf wound up his speech, hundreds of Razakars chanted 'Naraye Takbir' and attacked the residence of one Jadav Mistri at Rampal Sadar.

"They ransacked the house and went to Bagerhat by launch," said Mandal.

Led by Justice Obaidul Hassan, the International Crimes Tribunal-2 had indicted the Jamaat leader on 13 war crimes charges, including killing, genocide and arson on Aug 1 this year.

According to the witness, thousands of Hindus had taken refuge at the Dakra Kalibarhi in Rampal to cross over to India on May 21, 1971.

AKM Yusuf had ordered local Razakars Rajjab Ali and Siraj Master to kill the Hindus gathered there.

The witness told the tribunal that up to 600 Hindus had been massacred at the Kalbarhi following the instigation.

Narayan Choukidar, who had survived the attack, is a witness in the case.

Mandal said local 'Peace Committee' leaders, late Siddique Master, Shahadat Kazi alias Bashar Kazi had told him that the killings had taken place at Yusuf's order.

He had left Bangladesh with his parents the following day to India's Bashirhat.

Mandal left his parents behind and had gone to Chakulia where he had undergone 27 days of training to fight the Liberation War.

The witness had come back to Bangladesh with one 'Afzal', a commander of Sector 9 constituted with Barisal, Patuakhali, and parts of Khulna and Faridpur.

Bangladesh was divided in 11 sectors during the Liberation War.

On Oct 13 that year, a group of freedom fighters had camped at Ghanshyam High School in Bagerhat. Razakers, led by Rajjab Ali Fakir, had surrounded them.

The freedom fighters fought valiantly but they had to part ways as they did not know the place well.

Mandal said he, along with four others, had taken shelter at a nearby betel nut grove.

"A man showed up the following day and told us, 'do not stray from here. The Razakars had captured several of your fellow fighters and locals and had taken them to the Chulkathi Bazar. I've heard that they would be killed there’," he said.

The man had later informed them that Razakars had killed seven freedom fighters. He said Bijoy Das and 'Sunil' were among those killed.

Mandal said the man had assisted them in getting to Batiaghata on Oct 14 from there.

He identified AKM Yusuf in the dock after his chilling testimony.

Defence counsel quizzed the witness afterwards. The court then adjourned the hearing for the day in response to a defence plea.

The prosecution had submitted charges at the ICT registrar’s office on May 5 this year.

Yusuf's case was transferred to the ICT-2 on Jul 1 following a prosecution appeal to the tribunal registrar on Jun 23.

On Apr 22, a probe panel of the prosecution filed the report accusing Yusuf of involvement in crimes against humanity during the War of Independence.

Probe coordinator Hannan Khan had said they found evidence that Razakars under Yusuf's command were involved in killing almost 700 people.

The vigilante militia group Razakar — which has become synonymous with ‘collaborator’ in Bengali — supported the war effort of the Pakistani military junta and committed widespread crimes against humanity.

There were also evidence against Yusuf of looting and setting fire to 300 houses, 400 shops and of forcibly converting 200 Hindus, Khan had said.

The Awami League-led government formed a tribunal in 2010 to try the crimes during the Liberation War. A second tribunal was constituted two years to expedite the trials.