Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Zahid Hossain Khokon
2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Mobarak Hossain
3. Chief Prosecutor vs. Fakhrul Islam

Zahid Hossain Khokon

In the case against Zahid Hossain Khokon, the Tribunal recorded the testimony of Abdul Hye Mollah (PW-4) and Yunus Mollah (PW-5). Abdul Hye Mollah testified in support of Charges 1, 5 and 7, while and Yunus Mollah testified in support of Charge 1 and 7. Following direct examination, the state-appointed Defense Counsel cross-examined the witnesses.

Mobarak Hossain

In the case against Mobarak Hossain, the Tribunal announced that it would limit the number of Defense witnesses to three, and set December 1, 2013 for recording the testimony of DW-1.

Contempt Proceedings

The Tribunal set December 12 for a hearing on contempt notice issued against Fakhrul Islam, Defense counsel of Salauddin Qader Chowdhury. 

Examination-in-Chief of PW-4

Abdul Hye Mollah testified that he was a student of intermediate first year in 1970. He testified that in 1970 he was an activist of the Awami League and campaigned for Awami League candidate Obaidur Rahman. He stated that on that election, Zahid Hossain Khokon, his brother Jafor, Abul Kamal Azad, Aynal, Atahar and others campaigned for Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Mohammad Ali. He further stated that after 25 March 1971, Zahid Hossain Khokon, Jafor, Aynal, Atahar and others asked the witness and others to work against the Liberation War; they refused, and Khokon and the others warned them that the result of their refusal would not be good.

Abdul Hye Mollah further testified that on April 21, 1971, the Pakistani Army entered Faridpur. Khokon, Jafor, Bacchu, Aynal, Atahar, and Badsha Mia welcomed them, attended a meeting with them, and took arms and returned to Nagarkanda and formed Razakar camp. On 24 April 1971, a freedom fighter unit of Nagarkanda was formed and the witness joined and began training. Abdul further testified that late on the night of 26 April 1971, he returned to his home and at 6 am the next morning, Khokon and his brother Jafor and their accomplices attacked their home with arms. When he came out from his house, he saw Khokon, his brother Jafor, Aynal, Atahar and others, and hid himself in the nearby jute field. He testified that Khokon and his accomplices looted and set fire to the houses of his brother freedom fighters Hiru Mollah, Nazim Mollah, Rahman Mollah and others. He testified that Khokon and accomplices took 17 villagers—namely Roton Mollah, Hathem Mollah, Omed Mollah, Mokbul Kha, Siarun Nessa, Yunus and others—from their village to Nagarkanda Police Station and detained them for 2 days, during which they tortured them and asked for money. Their family members eventually paid for their release.

Abdul Hye Mollah also testified that on 29 May 1971, a fight took place between Khokon, his accomplices and the Pakistani Army and the freedom fighters. During that fight, Jafor, some members of the Pakistani Army and three civilians were killed. After Jafor’s death, Khokon became Razakar commander of Nogorkanda. Abdul Hye Mollah added that on the morning of 30 May 1971, Khokon, his accomplices and the Pakistani Army came to their village of Kodalia; there, they set fire to the houses and killed 16 civilians. The witness also testified that on 31 May 1971, Khokon, his associates and the Pakistani Army went to the Dighalia Canal to search for the corpses of those from the Pakistani Army who died on 29 May 1971. However, they did not find any corpses; this angered them, and they then attacked the houses of Pigir Uddin, Afaz Uddin and Sadek located at Kodalia village. He testified that they set the houses of Pigir Uddin, Afaz Uddin and Sadek on fire, and the three of them died from that arson attack. He further testified that he witnessed them attack Bonogram, loot the village and set the houses on fire. They then went to Meherdia village, set the houses on fire, and killed two civilians by firing. He acknowledged that he gave an interview to the Investigating Officer and testified that Khokon is not present at the dock of the Tribunal.

Examination-in-Chief of PW-05

Yunus Mollah testified that in 1971 he was 27 years old. After 25 March 1971, Zahid Hossain Khokon, his brother Jafor, Aynal, Atahar and others asked the witness and others to work against the Liberation War, but they refused; Khokon and the others then warned that the result of their refusal would not be good. He added that on April 21, 1971, the Pakistani Army entered Faridpur, and Khokon, his brother Jafor, Bacchu, Aynal, Atahar, and Badsha Mia welcomed them, attended a meeting with them, and took arms and returned Nagarkanda.

Yunus Mollah testified that around 6am on 13 Boishakh, a month of the Bangla year, Khokon and his brother Jafor and their accomplices attacked their home and started firing. When the witness came out from his house, Khokon caught him and beat him with the butt of a rifle. Khokon and his accomplices looted and set fire to the houses. He testified that Khokon and his accomplices took 17 villagers—including a woman named Siarun Nessa—from their village to Nagarkanda Police Station and detained them for 2 days, during which they tortured them and asked for money. When their family members paid, the villagers were released. Yunus Mollah testified that he was tortured separately because he was the brother of a freedom fighter.

Yunus Mollah testified that on 29 May 1971, a fight took place between Khokon, his accomplices and the Pakistani Army and the freedom fighters. During the fight, Jafor and members of the Pakistani army were killed. He testified that on the morning of 30 May 1971, Khokon with his accomplices and the Pakistani Army came to the village of Bongram. Meherdia looted the houses and set the houses on fire. He testified that he personally witnessed this incident, and that Khokon is not present at the dock of the Tribunal.