War crimes investigators in Bangladesh have finalised charges against a former member of the Pakistani Army.
Muhammad Shahidullah, a Bengali captain during the Liberation War, will be the first Pakistani Army personnel to face charges at the International Crimes Tribunal.
Shahidullah, from Amirabad village at Comilla’s Daudkanti, is accused of committing war crimes in his own locality.
He allegedly joined the invading Pakistani forces at Dhaka Cantonment after the war broke out. He set up a camp at Daudkandi Sadar after getting transferred from Dhaka to Comilla Cantonment.
Abdul Hannan Khan, chief coordinator for the investigation agency, said the Bangladesh Army does not have any record on Shahidullah because he did not join it after the war.
But the accused is still referred to as ‘the captain’ in his locality.
The investigation Shahidullah began on Oct 11, 2015, said Hannan.
“We have been investigating for one and half years. We will submit our report to the prosecution today.”
The International Crimes Tribunal granted a prosecution plea by issuing an arrest warrant against Shahidullah on Aug 2 last year. He was produced in court and sent to prison the next day.
Several other Bengali officers of the Pakistan Army are being investigated for war crimes, said Sanaul Haque, senior coordinator for the probe agency.
“We will not release their identities for the sake of investigation. But we hope to inform you one step at a time.”
Source: bdnews24
