The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Tuesday sentenced Obaidul Haque Taher and Ataur Rahman Noni of Netrokona to death for their crimes against humanity during the Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. With the duo standing in the dock, the three-member tribunal headed by Justice M Anwarul Haque pronounced the judgment at 12:20 pm in a crowded courtroom. “The verdict says the death sentence will have to be executed either by hanging Taher and Noni or by shooting them in a firing squad,” said prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman Badal. The 268-page judgment was read out by the tribunal judges in phases for 110 minutes from 10:30 am. In the morning, police produced the defendants before the tribunal at about 9:00 am amid tight security. The convicts faced six charges, including those for mass killing, abductions, looting and arson attacks during the nine-month bloody war. Of the six charges, they were awarded death penalty in two and jail unto death in two others. On Monday, the tribunal fixed today (Tuesday) for delivery of the judgment. On January 10, closing the law-point arguments from both sides in the trial, the ICT kept pending its verdicts for any day. Earlier, both of them had pleaded not guilty. Prosecution expressed satisfaction over the verdict CHARGES: First: Razakar commander Taher and his accomplice Nani accompanied by other accomplices and the Pakistan army on August 17, 1971, attacked Baushi Bazar under Barhatta Police Station and looted valuables from 400-450 shops and 20-25 houses of the Hindus. They detained and tortured up to eight people, including local Awami League leader Fazlur Rahman. All but Fazlur were released. Taher, Nani and their accomplices took Fazlur to Trimohoni Bridge and shot him dead. Second: Razakars under the leadership of Taher on October 4, 1971, caught footballer Dabir Hossain at Sree Sree Narosingh Jeur Akhra and took him to Zilla Parishad Bungalow where he was tortured. He was later shot dead near Moktarpara Bridge in Netrakona town. Third: They accompanied by other accomplices and the Pakistan soldiers attacked Laufa village under Barhatta Police Station around 2:30pm on October 19, 1971, and detained 10 people. Seven of them were later shot dead while one survived with bullet injuries and two were freed. Their accomplices also raped several women. Fourth: In May, 1971 the accused occupied one Moloy Biswas’ home at Moktarpara and set up a razakar camp. The house owner later left Bangladesh for India fearing his life. They also forcibly occupied the house of Sirish Chandra Sarker and set up an office of anti-liberation party Nezam-e-Islami for carrying out atrocious activities against the pro-liberation people. Sirish and his family members were forced to leave the country. Fifth: Between November 15 and 16 Taher, Nani along with other accomplices detained seven people including Badiuzzaman Mukto, an organiser of Mukijuddha, at Birampur Bazar and shot all but one dead. Sixth: In the first week of October, Taher and Nani along with Pakistan soldiers and other accomplices detained 15 Hindus from Netrakona jail gate area and took them near Trimohoni Bridge and shot them dead. — Dhaka, Feb 2 (UNB)
