Thursday, December 08, 2011

First testimony in Bangladesh war crimes trial

DHAKA: The first trial of a suspected collaborator from 1971 war heard on Wednesday how the accused, now a senior politician, led a wave of looting and arson. Delawar Hossain Sayedee, a top figure in the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party, listened from the dock as the first witness in his trial described how Sayedee pointed out homes and shops of supporters of the liberation movement. Mahbubul Islam Howlader, 60, told the court how an “auxiliary force” led by Sayedee had then “torched and looted” scores of houses and shops belonging to minority Hindus. Howldaer also recalled seeing Sayedee order his men to shoot a Hindu man who had been captured and tied to a coconut tree. Sayedee stands charged with crimes against humanity, genocide, murder, rape, religious persecution and enslavement. If found guilty, the 71-year-old could be hanged. afp

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

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