Abdur Rashid Mia, incumbent chairman of Halidhani Union Parishad at Jhenidah Sadar upazila and president of Halidhani union unit of Awami League, and another person have been arrested on charge of crimes against humanity during 1971 war.
The infamous Rajakar of 1971 became an influential leader of the ruling party and elected U/P chairman as Awami League-nominated candidate with blessings of some leaders of the party.
Police arrested Abdur Rashid Mia and Saheb Ali Malita of Kola village on Monday afternoon
Superintendent of Police (SP) in Jhenidah Mohammad Hasanuzzaman said the duo was arrested from Dakbangla Trimohini area at Jhenidah Sadar upazila.
Earlier, the war crime charges were brought against the two Rajakars of Halidhani. Charge-sheet was also submitted against them. Later, a Jhenidah court issued arrest warrant against them.
According to court sources, Ashir Uddin, an ex-Army personnel and also a freedom fighter of Kola village, filed a case (Jhe. C-79/09) against six Rajakrs with the court of chief judicial magistrate in Jhenidah on March 25 in 2009. The court ordered the police for investigation.
But the case was almost sub-pressed due to political pressure. It compelled the petitioner to come to an amicable settlement, said Matiar Rahman, a member of Halidhani Union Parishad, and ex chairman of the union parishad Mozammel Haque.
In the petition the freedom fighter said he left the job of Pakistan Army and joined the Liberation War in 1971. During the war, a group of about 50 Rajakars, including Abdur Rashid Mia, Moslemduudin, Alauddin, Hakim Ali Khondaker, Shahjahan Ali, Asmat Ali and Shaheb Ali raided his house at Kola village. To save lives, Ashiruddin and his brother Mahiruddin left the house and took shelter at neighboring Kashipur village.
The Rajakars caught his elder brothers Azibar Mandal, Habibar Mandal and Ansar Mandal and killed them near Ghormara Bridge. They also hid the bodies. The miscreants also set about 30 houses including their houses on fire. They had also beaten up his aged father Dukhi Mahmud Mandal and mother Kamini Khatun.
After the death of Ashir Uddin, his nephew Anwar Hossain lodged a case with the war crimes tribunal. The tribunal collected information about the brutality. They also collected some samples related to the crimes.
A number of locals on Tuesday said accused Rajakar Abdur Rashid Mia was involved with the politics of Islamic Democratic League (IDL), Jamaat-e-Islami, extremist outlawed Haque group and Sarbahara party.
His last destination was ruling Awami League and he had been successful to manage some of the leaders to achieve his target to become president of Halidhani union Awami League which helped him winning the post of chairman. He became Awami League leader to save him.
Harunur Rashid and Bazlur Rashid, two sons of Abdur Rashid, have been dominating the areas turning them as Juba League leaders. They have been torturing the innocent people in the name of village arbitration, locals said.
