Journalists submit to ICT investigators documents on Moosa's alleged war crimes

They delivered the documents comprising 28 pages that include reports of bdnews24.com, the Daily Janakantha and Dhaka Tribune to ICT investigation agency Senior Coordinator Sanaul Haque on Thursday.

Sagar Lohani, who is also a Liberation War researcher, told the media after the submission of the documents: "They (ICT investigators) have assured us of inspecting the matter and taking steps to inquire into the charges by appointing an investigation officer if evidence based on proof is found through the inspection."  

Probir Sikdar, editor of the news portal Uttoradhikar Ekattor, said he hoped the ICT investigation agency would take steps to investigate the war crimes allegedly committed by Moosa.

ICT investigation agency Chief Cordinator Abdul Hannan Khan told bdnews24.com: "We will check the documents they have submitted and will surely go for an investigation if we find the truth in them."

Freedom fighters of Faridpur have alleged the ICT investigation agency has not been paying any heed to the allegations of 1971 war crimes against Moosa, who is related to Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim through a marriage between the two families.

On Mar 21, bdnews24.com published a report on the matter. Several freedom fighters of Faridpur told bdnews24.com that they were ready to testify against Moosa at the war crimes tribunal.

Asked for his reaction to the comments of the freedom fighters, ICT investigator Sanaul said the agency would launch an investigation only after 'progress in initial inspection'.

He also urged the media to submit documents on information relating to the war crimes allegations against Moosa. Sagar Lohani said the two journalists had responded to the call.

Often referred to as ‘Bangladesh’s prince’ in the foreign media owing to his vast wealth, Moosa began trading in manpower through the DATCO Group he founded in 1974. However, Moosa is better known in the foreign media for his alleged ties to the weapons trade.

The ACC in 2011 decided to probe Moosa after another newspaper reported he had Tk 510 billion in Swiss banks. The probe did not make much progress, though.

Known as Moosa Bin Shamsher now, his real name is Abu Daud Mohammad Moosa. He hails from Kajikanda village of Nagarkanda Upazila in Faridpur district.

His father Shamsher Molla was an employee in the jute department before Bangladesh's independence and built a home at Faridpur town where Moosa was raised.

Locals say Moosa, fluent in English and Urdu, developed close links with the Pakistan army during the war. He was a student of Rajendra College at the time.