A new prosecution witness (PW) on Tuesday testified against Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, charged for committing crimes against humanity during the War of Liberation, at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2. Julekha Khan, 57, widow of Freedom Fighter (FF) Harun-ur Rashid, submitted her deposition as the PW-15. “My husband and his colleague Shahidul Alam were abducted by Mir Quasem and his men from Al-Badr on November 28, 1971, and taken to their camp in Dalim Hotel.
Quasem’s men tortured them for three to four days and shifted my husband to another camp situated in Salma Manjil behind Panchlaish police station. There Quasem made 5 or 6 attempts to kill my husband but forced to change his plan. But he along with his men killed 15/16 inmates of that camp,” Julekha said quoting her father.
After her deposition, Advocate Mizanul Islam, counsel for Quasem, cross-examined her and the tribunal adjourned the hearing till March 18.
The ICT-1 on August 29, 2013, framed a total of fourteen charges of crimes against humanity against Mir Quasem. Later, the trial was shifted from ICT-1 to ICT-2 for quick disposal. Mir Quasem was arrested on June 17, 2012 from daily Naya Diganta office in the city’s Motijheel area and is now kept at Kashimpur High Security Jail.
Meanwhile, the ICT-2 set March 9 for starting examining the PWs against the Syed Mohammad Quaiser as prosecution submitted their opening statement against the accused today. The tribunal of February 2, 2014, framed 16-charge of crimes against humanity against Quaiser.
