A freedom fighter yesterday filed a case against 25 people, including an incumbent Jatiya Party (JP) lawmaker as well as a former party MP, for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. Md Abul Kalam, 68, regional organiser of the Liberation War, filed the case with the cognisance court No. 3 of senior judicial magistrate Mitful Islam. The accused are: MA Hannan, JP lawmaker of Trishal currently in jail, Anisur Rahman Manik (70), former JP lawmaker of Trishal, Muklesur Rahman Mukul (65) and Saidur Rahman Ratan (64), both brothers of Manik, Shamsul Haque Bachhu (70), Maulana Md Mofazzol Hossain (72), Mukul Master (70), Razakar commander Adil (70), Shamsul Haque Fakir (72), Nurul Haque Fakir (70), Nazrul Islam Fakir (65), Sultan Fakir (62), the late advocate Sirajul Haque, the late Abdul Khaleque Sarker, the late Abdul Latif, Gedu Chairman, the late Maulana Khaleque Ghudu Miah, the late Asmat Ali Fakir, the late Md Faruq, Morshed Ali (65), Kafil Uddin (70), Helal Uddin (65), Ibrahim Miah (70), Khadem Ali (65) and the late Badal Miah. All of them hail from different villages of Trishal upazila.
Earlier, in October last year, a case was filed against Manik, Mukul, Ratan, Sultan and Shamsul for allegedly committing war crimes in 1971. According to case documents, the accused were involved with Muslim League, Islami Chhatra Sangha and Nezami Islami, all anti-Liberation organisations, and subsequently got involved with the Peace Committee and Razakar force in Trishal upazila during the Liberation War. The case documents mention that more than 100 people were killed by the anti-Liberation forces during the Liberation War. They also present a list of 57 martyred people and mention that the accused had helped the Pakistani army in the area and committed several crimes including murders, raping of women and torching of houses,
On April 21, 1971, the Pakistan army had advanced towards Trishal by breaking the barricade of hundreds of pro-Liberation people. It had opened fire on innocent people after reaching Kalirbazar area in Trishal, blaming them for throwing brickbats at the army, read the case documents.
During the attack launched by the Pakistan army, the accused in the case, equipped with weapons, had rushed to the spot in several groups and expressed their solidarity with the Pakistan army, it was also alleged. The accused later led different anti-liberation organisations and continued murders, robberies, torture on women, torching of houses and forceful conversion to Islam. They also set up a torture cell at Kanihari School and many pro-liberation people were allegedly tortured there.  Yunus Ali Inu, Abdul Hamid, Golam Rasul and Abdus Samad  were allegedly killed by the accused. They were buried at a mass grave behind the camp. Advocate Abdur Rahman Al-Hussain Taz moved for the complainant. He said the court sent the case to the International War Crimes Tribunal.