20 Dec 2011: Talukder cross exam day 1

This was the first day for the cross examination of Md Mizanur Rahman Talukder, the third witness to give evidence against Delwar Hossain Sayedee. The date was also set for the continuation of the  New Age contempt case, and a short note on this is contained in the next post.

Before the cross examination started, one of the prosecutors, Malum, brought to the tribunal's attention an article in Noya Digantur, but the tribunal said that it did not have time to deal with issues like this this.

Witness Evidence in chief

Below is an unofficial translation of the cross examination. (Notes and translation undertaken by Onchita Shadman. Every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, but there may be some small omissions.)

Defence: When the war had begun you lived in Rajarhat of Pirojpur district

Witness: yes

Defence: How far is Rajarhat from then M. L. A. Enayat Hossain’s house?

Witness: A little less than 1 km

Defence: In which direction?

Witness: South-east.

Defence: Was your house behind Pirojpur Police station, a share house or a rented one?

Witness: I had rented Peyara’s house.

Defence: Did anyone from your family live in that house?

Witness: My elder brother, Abdul Jabbar Khan.

Defence: What did he do?

Witness: Both of us studied in Pirjpur College

Defence: In which year did he study?

Witness: Both us were in HSC second year in 1970.

Defence: You passed SSC in 1970?

Witness: Yes

Defence: Then your HSC session should be ‘72-‘73.

Witness: probably ‘70-‘71.

Defence: If you passed SSC in 1970, then your session can’t be ’70-‘71

Witness: This is not true

Nizamul Haque: From my personal knowledge I can tell session were delayed (due to war)

Defence: That was after ’70 Sir.

Defence: Do you know the witness Ruhul Amin Nabin?

Witness: yes

Defence: Was he junior to you as a student?

Witness: No he was a senior.

Defence: Where did your brother Abdul Mannan Talukder live?

Witness: He would come to office from (village) home.

Defence: How many members of your family lived in that house?

Witness: Including my mother, 7 brothers and sisters, 10-12 people.

Defence: You lived in this house from between the war had started until May 17 and 18.

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you come to know of Operation Searchlight while staying in your Razarhat house.

Witness: yes

Defence: who informed you about it?

Witness: I heard on radio and from other people.

Defence: You were member of Sharbadaliya Chatra Sangram Parishad whose leader was Shaheed Faruk Hossain.

Witness: I was

Defence: On that night, you had announced resisting the Pakistani forces to achieve independence.

Witness: At Enayat Hossain’s direction, I had announced on mike asking people to gather with whatever they possess in front of Pirojpur police station.

Defence: This made you known as a person in favour of the liberation war.

Witness: I was an activist. Whether I was known or not, I can’t tell.

Defence: Was your Razarhat home close to your college?

Witness: a distance of half km in between.

Defence: Pirojpur’s treasury and arsenal were looted?

Witness: not true

Defence: In between the commencement of the liberation war in 1971 and arrival of the Pakistani army in Pirojpur, Pirojpur area was under the control of pro-liberation forces.

Witness: more or less

Defence: How long after the arrival of Pakistani forces in Pirojpur, was Peace Committee formed?

Witness: Can’t tell. They were getting organised in secret.

Defence: When did they publicly reveal themselves?

Witness: After the Pakistani army had arrived, I didn’t come out of my house. I don’t know the date when Peace Committe was formed.

Defence: Can you tell when the Razakar force was formed?

Witness: no

Defence: While you were in Razarhat until 18 May, neither Peace Committee nor the Razakars went to your home looking for you.

Witness: No, they didn’t

Defence: From beginning till end of the war the Razakars had never been to your village home.

Witness: They have been to my village home many times and shot a hole inside my mango tree

Defence: When did that happen?

Witness: I wasn’t home at that time. So can’t give the date.

Defence: There was a Razakar named Delwar Hossain Mallick in Pirojpur and Parerhat area.

Witness: That’s a 100% lie. There was Delwar Hossain Shikder

Defence: Delwar Hossain Mallick did exist and was sent to jail after liberation. You are concealing this fact you know.

Witness: not true

Defence: Was there any Razakar in Parerhat area by the name of Abdur Razzak?

Witness: Probably

Defence: Was there any Razakar named Mohsin?

Witness: yes

Defence: Was there a Razakar named Hakim Kari?

Witness: yes

Defence: Khalilur Rahman, Ruhul Amin Howlader?

Witness: there was a Razakar named Khalilur Rahman. Can’t remember Ruhul Amin Howlader at this moment (unless I know his address).

Defence: Khalil from your Togra village?

Witness: can’t remember.

Defence: Another named Selim?

Witness: can’t remember

Defence: What was the profession of the Razakars you’ve named?

Witness: Some were students, some just roamed around.

Defence: Do you know the house 39A Baily Road, Dhaka?

Witness: I don’t know the house by number.

Defence: Who was the chairman of Sharbadaliya Chatra Sangram Parishad?

Witness: Probably Shah Alam

Defence: To join in the liberation war, you took training at Pirojpur stadium?

Witness: for 2-3 days

Defence: Where did you go after that?

Witness: to Wapda ground in Razarhat.

Defence: There was no stadium in Pirojpur in 1971

Witness: not true. There was a ground and a place assigned for the stadium.

Defence: It was a paddy field

Witness: not true

Justice Zaheer: He didn’t depose that “I did not take the training”. Why did you ask this question then? It’s not in the examination-in-chief.

Defence: Bashbunia is within Mothbaria police station of Pirojpur district

Witness: yes

Defence: Togra is within Pirojpur Sadar.

Witness: At present within Indurkani police station

Defence: Charkhali village is within Bhandaria police station

Witness: yes

Defence: North of Charkhali village is Togra

Witness: no

Defence: Which way is it?

Witness: on west

Defence: Bashbunia is north to Delikhali of Charkhali

Witness: no, on east

Defence: North of Bashbunia is Charkhali village.

Witness: probably

Defence: Did you know the area around Charkhali?

Witness: no, I didn’t visit that area much.

Defence: You were in Bashbunia village when you head that the Razakars and the Pakistani army had plundered Charkhali village.

Witness: not true

Defence: You have said in your statement that you “came on the big street.” From where did you come there?

Witness: from Mia Bari of Bashbunia.

Defence: You’ve seen it (plunder) from there?

Witness: no, when I went ahead.

Defence: How far is the big road from Mia Bari?

Witness: almost 1km.

Defence: How far is Charkhali from this big road?

Witness: 3-3.5 km is my estimate.

Defence: I suggest that this is no less than 10 km

Witness: not true

Defence: Can you name some escapees from whom you got the news?

Witness: no

Defence: What was the time when you’ve heard from them?

Witness: around 3:30

Defence: What was the date?

Witness: first week of June probably

Defence: Charkhali needs to be crossed to reach from Bashbunia.

Witness: yes

Defence: You knew that the Razakars who had been looking for you could be Charkhali vllage.

Witness: no

Defence: the Razakars who’d pressured your brother, were still at Parerhat?

Prosecution (at defence lawyer’s loud voice): The witness will get scared

Witness: You haven’t named them. How can I tell where were those Razakars from?

Defence: Name the Razakars who had abducted your brother

Witness: Can you explain?

Justice Zaheer explains

Witness: My brother told me about Abdur Rashid, Mohsin, Esahar, Momin and few others who I can’t remember.

Defence: You are saying that the Razakars who’d led arson attack in Charkhali village are not from Parerhat?

Witness: whatever you’re saying is wrong, whatever I said is right.

Justice Zaheer: Clarify the questions you ask

Defence: ok

Defence: While staying at Bashbunia village, did you enquire about people who were for and against independence?

Witness: no

Defence: As a freedom fighter, you’ve seen everything that had happened in Pirojpur district.

Witness: I came to Pirojpur on 17th or 18th of May. I don’t know everything that had happened before that time, but know some.

Defence: You know about everything that happened after 17 and 18?

Witness: I wouldn’t know of things that had happened while I was absent.

Defence: Can you describe any incidence that happened after 17/18?

Witness: I can only speak about Parerhat area of Pirojpur.

Defence: After the liberation war, did you visit Charkhali village to see whose houses had been burnt.

Witness: yes I went.

Defence: Have you heard of Razakar commander Manik Khandaker of Pirojpur Mahkuma?

Witness: yes, I knew Razakar Manik, but don’t know whether he was a commander.

Defence: Did you know of his related brother Shanu Khandaker?

Witness: Yes

Defence: He (Shanu) was the Muktijodhdha commander of Bhandaria Police Station.

Witness: I think Enayat Hossain Khan was the commander there.

Defence: Manik Khandaker and Shanu Khandaker were both from Charkhali village.

Witness: I don’t know exactly, but they were from around that area.

Defence: Charkhali village was densely populated during the war and 1200 people lived there

Witness: more than that

Defence: Did you know Shanu Khandaker’s elder brother freedom fighter Badsha Khandaker?

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you know Ashraf Ali Howlder, son of Asmat Howlader of Charkhali village in Pirojour Mahkuma?

Witness: no

Defence: Did you know freedom fighter Ali Ahmed, son of Ujjot Ali?

Witness: no

Defence: Did you know Babul Shikder, son of Syed Shikder of Charkhalivillage?

Witness: no

Defence: Did you Razakar Mojibur Mallick, son of Hasan Mallick?

Witness: no

Defence: Do you know Abdul Mannan, son of Hashem?

Witness: no

Defence: Do you know infamous Razakar of Pirojpur Mahkuma, Amin Hossain?

Witness: I can’t remember

Defence: At that time boats were the means of transport?

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you know Asraf Ali Majhi (boatman) of Charkahli village?

Witness: no

Defence: Can you name a few boatmen of Charkhali jetty?

Witness: I knew Kobiraj

Defence: Did you know Abdul Hamid Howlader, son of Abdul Goni Howlader of Charkhali village?

Witness: no

Defence:Abdul Jalil Jamaddar, son of Amjad Jamaddar?

Witness: Don’t know him

Defence: Fazlul Haque Howlader, son of Moinuddin Howlader?

Witness: Don’t know him

Justice Zaheer requests the counsel to make his point. Mizanul Islam says PW3 can’t name any of these people.

Defence: Abdul Mannan Howlader, son of Jobed Ali Howlader?

Witness: Don’t know

Defence: Mostafa Jomaddar, son of Matlab Ali Jamaddar?

Witness: Don’t know

Defence: This Charkhali village is within Bhandaria district’s Nathmunath Shialkathi union?

Witness: yes

Defence: Chairman of Peace Committee of this union was Ashraf Ali Howlader

Witness: Don’t know

Defence: Name ten people from that village whose houses were burnt down.

Witness: Naren, Haripad..

Defence: Can you name ten?

Witness: I can name as many as I know

Defence: I suggest that there was no one called Naren and Haripad in Charkhali village at that time.

Witness: not true

Defence: According to your description there had been no pillage and arson attack in Charkhali village in 1971

Witness: not true

Defence: Freedom fighters had taken charge of Pirojpur Mahkuma on 8 December, 1971

Witness: I wasn’t in the area then. So don’t know

Defence: In January of 1972 after liberation, you returned to your home in Togra.

Witness: yes

Defence: Were there any Razakar in Togra village?

Witness: Yes. Esahar, Mostafa, Rashid, Mohsin, Goni, Fazlur Rahman. I can’t remember the rest of them.

Defence: After returning home did you seize these Razakars of Togra?

Witness: no

Defence: Did you enquire about them?

Witness: I went to their house to find that they’d already escaped from the area

Defence: What was the value of the looted items returned to your house?

Witness: approximately Tk 10-15 lakh

Defence: When did you tell your mother that you won’t kill if goods are returned?

Witness: Two days before these were returned.

Defence: Did your mother let you leave the house after the goods were returned?

Witness: A few days later.

Defence: How many Razakars were arrested when you were there?

Witness: I wasn’t in Parerhat camp. I was with Morol Modhu and returned there. So I don’t know.

Adjournment, and continued after lunch

Tajul Islam raised an issue with the tribunal about not having any permanent passes and how differently the chief prosecutor is treated compared to the defence lawyers. Another defence lawyer raised with the tribunal the fact that the defence have no place to sit, eat or pray in the tribunal premises. The chairman said that they were trying to sort this out.

Defence: How many organisations were part of Sharbadaliya Chatra Sangram Parishad?

Witness: Chatra League, Chatra Union and Biplobi Chatra Union.

Defence: Were you involved with any of these organisations?

Witness: Yes I was secretary general of city division of Chatra League

Defence: You are still involved with politics of Awami League

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you know of the People’s Commission formed in 1992 to try the war criminals?

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you lodge any complaint against Sayedee Saheb at this commission?

Witness: I was there as a witness, but didn’t file any complaint.

Defence: Do you know where that court was?

Witness: In Suhrawardy Udyan

Defence: How many accused did they try?

Witness: probably 2

Defence: Who was the judge?

Witness: A lady whose name I can’t remember. (Later he said) Jahanara Imam

Defence: Was there only one judge in that court?

Witness: no

Defence: Who else was there?

Justice Zaheer: Why are you asking this question? It will be of no use to you.

Defence: Do you know how many people were convicted by that court and what was their sentence?

Witness: I can’t remember. Their crimes merited getting them death penalty

Defence: People’s Enquiry Commission was formed in 1994

Witness: I can’t remember

Defence: Did you lodge any complaint against Sayedee Saheb at this commission?

Witness: I can’t remember.

Defence: Before your witness statement here you haven’t made any speech or complaint against Sayedee Saheb anywhere?

Witness: I have been a witness at People’s Commission and made speeches, but don’t remember about making complaint elsewhere.

Defence: You haven’t submitted any statement to the Investigation Officer of this case?

Witness: I did, on 20/1/2011 most probably

Defence: Have you met ever Helal Saheb (Investigation Officer) before this date?

Witness: no

Defence: At present, you are a resident of Dhaka

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you give your statement in Dhaka?

Witness: yes

Defence: Did you give it at your home?

Witness: No at the investigation officer’s office in Baily Road

Defence: No one from your area (village) was present there at that time?

Witness: no

Defence: In between 1994’s People’s commission and 20/1/2011 you haven’t made any complaint against Sayedee

Witness: can’t remember

Defence: In between 1971 and 15 August 1975 you haven’t made any complaint against Sayedee

Witness: no

Defence: You have met Helal Saheb before?

Witness: No he’d called me from Pirojpur. I told him that I live in Dhaka. Later he called me on 20th and asked me to see him.

Defence: Delwar Hossain Sayedee was never known as Delwar Hossain Shikder

Witness: not true

Justice Zaheer: You are a lawyer of session court. Had this case been there, you wouldn’t have asked even 10% of these questions.

Defence: Even you would have asked who did you bring here (as a wirness)

Kafiluddin Chowdhury took over asking questions for the defence.

Defence: You did not get injured in the war?

Witness: no

Defence: Your house was not burnt down?

Witness: no

Defence: Your brother Abdul Mannan had carried on with his career as usual; retired from his job normally and had a natural death.

Witness: yes

Defence: How far was your brother’s workplace from your home?

Witness: almost 7.5 miles.

Defence: He used to travel this distance regularly during nine months of war?

Witness: yes

Defence: You haven’t mentioned the name Delwar Hossain Shikder before and not even yesterday in your witness statement.

Witness: not true, (his entire family’s surname is Shikder)

Chief Prosecutor asks the judges to record the phrase above in bracket.

Justice Zaheer: He has volunteered this answer. If you want to include this, when defence asks to include voluntary answers in their favour, you can’t object. (answer wasn’t recorded).

Defence: Prosecution has taught you this name.

Witness: not true

Defence: When did you head out towards Sundarban?

Witness: On 5th or 6th June

Defence: Who else went with you?

Witness: Abu Bakar, Ashraf

Defence: You went by boat

Witness: yes

Defence: How many rowers were there?

Witness: three

Judges: It’s sufficient that they had taken the boat.

Defence: When did you set off and when did you reach?

Witness: We started at 6:30 in the morning and reached Bogi in the evening.

Chairman: During tide it takes 3 hours, in ebb 7 hours. So you can’t pick the contradiction regarding time.

Defence: How long were you there for? Was this your permanent journey?

Witness: Yes, we didn’t return home from there

Defence: Have you met sub-sector commander Ziauddin?

Witness: yes

Defence: Have you been to his camp office?

Witness: yes I did.

Defence: Did you go there many times?

Witness: yes

Defence: Were camp and office separate?

Witness: yes

Defence: What was the structure of the office?

Witness: It was the (forest ranger’s) ranger’s office

Defence: Did photo of any significant person hung on the wall there?

Witness: I didn’t bother to notice. Photos were not supposed to be there.

Chairman: Your question regarding photograph is making me laugh. It was the office of forest division.

Defence: Let’s see Sir.

Defence: Was there any notice with details on seperate areas of commanders.

Witness: no

Defence: Were there any typist or PS?

Witness: I can’t remember

Defence: Do you know freedom fighter Md Helal?

Witness: Where is he from?

Defence: I don’t know

Witness: Then I also don’t know

Defence: Do you know the following freedom fighters of Sundarban? Md Helal, Shamsuddin Azad, Bipul Halder, Paritosh Karmakar, Mrinal Kanti Halder, Jahangir.

Witness: I know the names.

Defence: Where did you meet them?

Witness: After 40 years, I can’t remember whether I’ve actually met them or not

Defence: Have you heard of Tetulbunia during the liberation war?

Witness: I have heard of Tetulbari; can’t remember whether I’d heard of Tetulbunia then

Defence: What is Tetulbunia? Is it a river, a village…

Justice Zaheer: If he can’t remember the name, how will he answer this? No more question on this.

Defence: Did you know Shamsul Alam Talukder, Ziauddin’s second-in-command?

Witness: Yes

Defence: How did you address Ziauddin Saheb?

Witness: We called him ‘Zia Bhai’ or ‘Ustad’.

Defence: Who was the war commander?

Witness: There were no station wise commanders. Wherever an operation took place, someone was assigned with that duty.

Defence: Do you know witness no.1 of this case, Mahbubul Alam?

Witness: Yes

Defence: What did he do when the war was commencing?

Witness: As far as I know he was a student.

Defence: Did he consult you about lodging this case?

Witness: I haven’t met him. I am based in Dhaka.

Defence: When did you learn of Mahbubul Alam’s accusations in this case?

Chairman: Ask him first whether he learnt of these accusations?

Justice Zaheer: I am asking you again to come to the point.

Defence: Did Mahbub Saheb consult you before filing the case at Pirojpur court in 2001?

Witness: No

Defence: Ziauddin had written a memoir of the war titled, “Sunderbaner Ummatal Dinguli”, published in 1993. Have you read it?

Witness: no.

Defence: Because the book contains real description of the war which doesn’t match with your descriptions and because it doesn’t mention names of Delwar Hossain Sayedee and Delwar Hossain Shikder, you are denying having knowledge of the book to hide the truth.

Witness: not true

Defence: Poet Hasan Hafizur Rahman edited a historical book on Bangladesh’s liberation war, titled “Bangladesher Shadhinota Judhdher Dalilpotro” which was published by Bangladesh Information Ministry. Have you read it?

Witness: I know that this book has been published, but haven’t read it.

Defence: Because the book segment on Pirojpur does not contain events that you have described, and because it doesn’t mention names of Delwar Hossain Sayedee and Delwar Hossain Shikder, you are denying that you have read the book.

Witness: not true

Defence: A book titled ‘Pirojpurer Itihash’ (history of Pirojpur) was published in 2007 by Pirojpur District Council in association with District Muktijodhdha Command.

Witness: I don’t know

Defence: Because the book does not include events that you have described, and because it doesn’t mention names of Delwar Hossain Sayedee and Delwar Hossain Shikder, you are denying that you have read the book.

Witness: not true

Defence: Former SDPO of Pirojpur, late Faizur Rahman’s wife had written a memoir titled, “Jibon Jekhane Jemon”. Have you read it?

Witness: I haven’t.

Defence: Because the book contains real history of the war which doesn’t match with your descriptions and because it doesn’t mention Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s name, you are denying having knowledge of the book.

Witness: not true

Defence: When did you become enlisted as a freedom fighter?

Witness: The first time the list was made.

Defence: You’d left for India during the war and came back after independence.

Witness: not true

Defence: Before your return, freedom fighters had abducted the local Razakars, taken them on steamers (launch-boat) and shot them to death inside of Sundarban.

Justice Zaheer: You are suggesting that he was not present at that time. Any question regarding whatever happened in his absence is redundant. It’s your assertive question which he denied. So you don’t have the scope to ask what had happened before his return (from India).

Mizanul Islam: Even though he wasn’t there, he could have listened when he came back.

Defence: Razakar Danesh Ali Molla, Delwar Hossain Mallick, Maulana Moslem, Shah Abu Zafar, Syed Md Afzal Khan, Advocate Shamsul Ali, Nurul Islam Shikder, Ashraf Shikder were amongst the Razakars captured and sent to jail.

Witness: Some of these people escaped. There wasn’t any Razakar named Delwar Hossain Mallick in our area. Sekander Ali Shikder, Nurul Islam Shikder and Moslem Maulana were captured.

Nizamul Haque: Are you referring to Sharshina’s Pir (holy man) Shah Md Jafar?

Defence: Whatever we’ve found is in the record

Defence: You didn’t go to Sundarban in June

Witness: It’s a self-contradictory question. Not true

Defence: Camps were not set up in Sundarban then.

Witness: not true.

Defence: You’d listened on radio news regarding March 25. You’ve mentioned this in your statement but not to the Investigation Officer.

Witness: can’t remember.

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that you started preparing for liberation war after hearing Bangabandhu’s March 7.

Witness: can’t remember.

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that on reaching home you would secretly roam around the village and enquire about the activities of Razakars and Pakistani military.

Witness: can’t remember.

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that on 21-22 of May when your brother went to office, Delwar Hossain Sayedee grabbed and took him to Fakir Das’s building where he was tortured mentally and physically.

Witness: I did tell him. Not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that “Delwar Hossain Shikder, said Sayedee, issued a Fatwa in Parerhat that looted property of Hindus and pro-liberation people is public booty and it’s legal to use them. Immediately Jamaat and anti-liberation forces were encouraged to start loot and plunder. Not only that, Delwar Hossain, said Sayedee himself looted the big shops of Parerhat Bazaar.”

Witness: can’t remember.

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that Delwar Hossain Sayedee operated Paanch Tahbil

Witness: I probably did tell him

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that “Sayedee had forced innocent religious Hindus to convert into Islam and gave them skull cap, rosary and prayer mat. He commanded them to pray five times in the mosque and gave them Muslim names. After liberation these people reconverted back to their religion. Before the war, Sayedee used to lay down jute mat in the middle alley of Parerhat Bazaar in front of the quay and sell oil, salt, chilli, onion and turmeric.”

Witness: can’t remember

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that Sayedee sold dental medicines called ‘Chander Koboz’ and ‘Abe Hayat’ in village markets and on launch boats.

Witness: I told him

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that “on 28/29 May your brother came back from his office and started crying. He told you, “There’s no means left for us to survive. If you have to die, die as a freedom fighter”.

Witness: not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that “after learning of loot and arson attack at Charkhali village from the escapees, you turned west and went to the bank of Kocha River.

Witness: not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that when you saw Delwar Hossain Sayedee, you lay down on the boat and signalled the boatman to follow the ebb.

Witness: not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that you’d reached home between 9:30 and 10 pm and spent the night in another house of the village.

Witness: not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that after liberation you returned home in January.

Witness: not true

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that you told my mother that you won’t kill anyone but the looted items have to be returned to their owners.

Witness: not true

Justice Zaheer: How is this question relevant to Sayedee?

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that Delwar Hossain Shikder, son of Yusuf Shikder of Southkhali was directly and indirectly involved with the crimes committed in Parerhat region after the arrival of the Pakistani force. Such crimes included arson attack, murder, pillage, violence against women, forced conversion of the Hindus and handing over village women to be raped by the Pakistani military.

Witness: can’t remember

Defence: You didn’t tell the Investigation Officer that Delwar Hossain Sayedee had looted and burnt down houses in the Hindu locality.

Witness: can’t remember

Defence: You have lied that Delwar Hossain Sayedee abducted and took your brother to Fakir Das’s building where he was tortured mentally and physically and pressured to hand you over to them.

Witness: not true

Defence: You have lied about your teacher Danesh Ali Molla telling Sayedee, “Set Mannan free. He will bring his brother within a few days.”

Witness: not true

Defence: You have lied that Delwar Hossain Sayedee issued a Fatwa in Parerhat that looted property of Hindus and pro-liberation people is public booty.

Witness: not true

Defence: You have lied that Delwar Hossain Sayedee took hold of Nagagrbashi Saha’s shop, filled it up with loots and named it ‘Paanch Tahbil’

Witness: I didn’t lie

Cross-examination finished for the day

Tajul Islam asked the judges to allow for Sayedee’s physiotherapy. Chairman Nizamul Haque says they will look into the matter if Sayedee can’t make it to court on the following day.