5 Dec 2012: Azad trial 13th and 14th witness

(These are not official transcripts but notes taken of the proceedings.)

Following on from the previous day, The trial of Abul Kalam Azad continued with the evidence of the 13th prosecution witness, a women, who testified behind closed doors.

Then Testimony of the 14th prosecution witness Binod Chandra Bissas started to be taken by Prosecutor Shahidur Rahman.

Prosecutor: Say your name and address?

Witness: My name is Binod Chandra Bissas and my father name is Khetro Mohon Bissas. My address is vill: Natibdia, P.S: Bowalmari, District: Faridpur.

Prosecutor: How old were you were during 1971?

Witness: 22 years.

Prosecutor: What is your present profession?

Witness: Tailoring.

Prosecutor: What was your profession during 1971?

Witness: I was learning tailoring work during 1971.

Prosecutor: Tell about our liberation war of 1971 what you know?

Witness: After “Non-cooperation Movement”, liberation war was started. At that time I was in Faridpur town.

Towards the end of April, 1971, Pakistani army entered into Faridpur town. After reaching Goalchamat on the way of town, Pakistani army entered into Prabhu Jagatbandhu Asram (temple) and killed eight priests of that Asram (temple) during the time of their praying. After that Pakistani army entered into Faridpur town and set up their camp in Rajendra College, Faridpur Circuit House, Chakbazar and Stadium and started to commit arson and looting in different area of town.

At that time, I went to my village house by walking which was 40 km far from the town in fear of life. On June 8, 1971, Abul Kalam Azad Bachchu along with his 8-10 cohorts came to our house by continuing firing with their guns (after, he said not 8 June, it was 6 June). All male members of our home including myself hid ourselves inside nearby jute field. Then my sister-in-law Shova Rani wife of Gosaipad Bissas, other sister-in-law Devi Rani Bissas wife of Nagenronath Bissas, another sister-in-law Surobala Bissas and my mother were in the house. Bacchu Rajaker and his cohorts surrounded those female members of our house and forced them to stand up and sit down.

Bachchu and four or five of his cohorts took Shova Rani Bissas and Devi Rani Bissas to the room of Shova Rani forcefully and kept them confined in this room for half an hour. After looting gold and other valuable property of our house, they went from our house. Around ten minutes later of Bachchu’s leaving, we male members of our house entered into house. Then my mother and a sister-in-law got Shova Rani and Devi Rani in the room undressed and saw that blood was coming from their bodies. They were senseless at that time. After finishing dress up of them, my mother and sister-in-law brought them out of the house. After that we gave water on their head and started to nurse them. Around 20 minutes, their sense came back. After coming back their sense, they started to cut off their hairs by saying “We have lost our chastity, we don’t want to live anymore, and we have lost our everything”. At that time Shova Rani was married for four months and Devi Rani was of six months.

Then we thought, noone could live in a place where women’s chastity could not be protected. After thinking this, next day morning we and around 20 Hindu Families of that area went to India in fear of life.

Justice Obaidul Hassan: Did you use to know Abul Kalam Azad Bacchu at that time?

Witness: Yes, I used to know Bachchu from before occurrence. I saw him to participate in the meeting and procession of Jamaytee Islami. Bacchhu also used to give training of Rajaker to young people of the area in collusion with Pakistani army.

Judge Shahinur Islam: What was the purpose of their training?

Witness: To loot in the area and rape women. I heard that Bachchu used to consult with Pakistani army about different matter.

Prosecutor: Did you give statement to Investigation Officer of this case?

Witness: Yes. I brought I.O of this case to India and gave him address of Shova Rani and Devi Rani Bissas. After that I.O has recorded the statement of Devi Rani Bissas and part statement of Shova Rani Bissas because she is ill.

Prosecutor: Is Abul Kalam Azad Alias Bachchu in this court?

Witness: No, if he used to remain here, I can trace him.

 Defence lawyer Sukkur Ali Khan then undertook cross examination of the witness (this took place on 6 December)

Defence: You have studied up to which class?

Witness: I have studied up to class 8.

Defence: What is your birth date?

Witness: 21/6/1952

Defence: What is your occupation?

Witness: I am a tailor at Faridpur.

Defence: You had recognized Maulana Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu from when?

Witness: In 1969.

Defence: In 1971 where did he study?

Witness: I don’t know.

Defence: Did you have a personal relation with him or had you spoken with him?

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: Do you know when Pakistan soldiers had entered at Faridpur in 1971?

Witness: No.

Defence: You never recognized him.

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: When Pakistan Armies had entered in to Faridpur in 1971?

Witness: probably on 20/22 April in 1971.

Defence: Where were you at that time?

Witness: 6/7 days later I had gone to my village.

Defence: He was involved in what political group in 1971?

Witness: I can’t say that but there was an office of Jamaet Islami in Faridpur at Niltuli, and he had meeting and assemblies there.

Defence: There is no office of Jamaet Islami in Faridpur at Niltuli and he had no meeting and assemblage there.

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: When Peace Committee was constituted in Faridpur?

Witness: I can’t remember that.

Defence: On 2nd August in 1971 former Govt. passed ordinance for establish Razakar Bahini.

Witness: I don’t know.

Defence: Before that it could not possible to made Razakar Bahini and Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu was not Razakar.

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: You have hidden within a jute field; nothing can be seen inside the jute field from the outside

Witness: Yes.

Defence: You also did not see the outside from the jute land.

Witness: It is not true. I saw.

Defence: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu had not taken any arms training or he could not access the arms.

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: Had I.O. written your statement and read out before you.

Witness: Yes.

Defence: Have you before that made any statement regarding this case?

Witness: No.

Defence: He did not go to your village and he and his followers did not rape Sovarani and Debirani and did not loot to your property.

Witness: It is not true.

Defence: Have you initiated any case regarding this?

Witness: No.

Defence: You have made false witness against Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

Witness: It is not true.