A written complaint has been filed to the  International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)
 
Allegations of war crimes have surfaced against Bogra-6 [Sadar] MP Golam Mohammad Siraj and his deceased father Golam Rabbani.

The MP and his father have been sued for their alleged involvement in the massacre of at least 325 people in Bogra's Sherpur upazila during the War of Liberation in 1971.

Saiful Islam, 65, a former Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader from Sherpur upazila filed a written complaint in this regard to the chief prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

Eleven witnesses of the two incidents of crimes against humanity have filed affidavit at the court to testify against the MP and his father, according to sources.

The plaintiff Saiful urged immediate beginning of the trial and said  he may come under attack as the accused is influential. "Still I am demanding justice for what I have witnessed."

Confirming that a written complainant has been filed the prosecutor of the ICT Tribunal Rejia Sultana Chaman said an investigation is ongoing regarding the matter and evidence is being collected.

Denying the allegations, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party elect MP Golam Mohammad Siraj, also the district unit BNP convener,  said: "This is a conspiracy against me. Propaganda is being spread to impair my political image."

According to the complaint filed, one of the mass killing incidents took place on April 25, 1971, in Bagra village of Sherpur upazila's Kusumbi union where at least 25 people were killed after Pakistani occupation forces lined them up.

MP Siraj -- accused of assisting the Pakistani forces with his father by killing, making hit lists and leading arsons in villages in Sherpur -- shot two rounds of bullets that day killing at least two.

In another incident, on the next day that year, at least 300 people were killed after Pakistani forces lined up around 350 people in Ghoga bridge area of Bhabanipur union in Sherpur upazila.

On that day Siraj fired the first shot and later signaled the Pakistani forces to begin the massacre.

The complaint says both of these incidents were witnessed by one Jabed Ali, among others.

Along with plaintiff Saiful, the ones who have affidavited at the court are: Mozzaffor Hossain, 63, Jabed Ali, 85, Chan Mahmud, 73, Abdul Based, 65, Nurul Islam Mir, 60, Sujab ALi, 73, Abdus Samad, 74, Ali Kazi, 65 Abdul Kader Sheikh, 83, and Altab Ali Sheikh, 78  

Confirming the names and ages of the witnesses, plaintiff Saiful says: "There are more witnesses. The witnesses too have demanded exemplary punishment for MP Siraj after an investigation is conducted.”