Forkan Razakar’s verdict any day

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 yesterday concluded trial proceedings in the case against razakar leader Forkan Mallik from Mirzaganj of Patuakhali, six months after his indictment on war crimes charges.

The three-member tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan kept the case for verdict (as CAV or Curia Advisari Vult) after recording arguments of the prosecution and the defence.

The 63-year-old razakar commander is facing five charges of crimes against humanity he had committed during the 1971 Liberation War in Mirzaganj upazila. The charges include murder, rape, abduction and forced conversion.

He was indicted on December 18 last year.

Fourteen prosecution witnesses testified at the tribunal while four gave depositions in favour of the accused.

The Detective Branch of police arrested Forkan from Rupatali Bus Stand in Barisal on June 25 last year. He was later shown arrested in the war crimes case.

According to the first charge, razakars led by Forkan and the Pakistani Army personnel apprehended Hafiz Uddin Khalifa and Awami League leader Abdul Kader Jomader on August 12, 1971. They were kept confined and later killed. The same day, the collaborators held Dr Debendra Nath Sarker from his house and shot him dead. Forkan bayoneted Bibha Rani Nath to death when she attempted to save her husband.

Forkan is charged with forceful conversion of Ramani Kundu, Shyam Sundar Kundu and Sunil Kundu – three brothers from Subidkhali Bazar under Mirzaganj – on August 15 at a razakar camp.

The third charge says on August 17, the accused and his accomplices held Golapi Rani Saha from the house of Ram Krishna Saha at Subidkhali and raped her at a place named Jugibari. The razakars then abandoned the woman in unconscious condition near her house. She died the following day.

Forkan and his associates in the razakar force raped two women after abduction from the house of Lalit Karmakar at Subidkhali on August 20. The victims were left in front of the house the next day. The family was later forced to leave the village for India.

As per the fifth charge, Forkan shot dead Hatem Ali at Kakarbunia and detained his daughter Aleya Begum on August 22. The accused and his cohorts accompanied by the Pakistani Army attacked Kakarbunia Bazar and opened indiscriminate fire on the people killing Sanad Jumar Halder. They also killed Elemuddin the same day. Aleya was taken to Patuakhali Circuit House and kept in a room along with 20-25 other young girls. The Pakistan Army men and Forkan repeatedly raped Aleya.