war crimes trial
�Butcher of Bagerhat� sentenced to death
Khan Akram jailed until death
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) yesterday declared the death sentence to Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. It also sentenced Khan Akram Hossain to jail till death in the same case and abated proceedings against another accused, Abdul Latif Talukder, who had died while undergoing treatment at a Dhaka hospital on July 28. A three-member bench, headed by ICT-1 chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim, delivered the verdict against Siraj and Akram in a crowded courtroom in Dhakas old High Court building amid tight security around 12.25pm. The two other judges of the bench were Justice Jahangir Hossain and Justice Anwarul Haque.
Out of the six charges brought against Siraj, the tribunal found him guilty on two counts of genocide and three of crimes against humanity. These charges included genocide and murder at Ranjitpur in Bagerhat Sadar police station area on May 13, 1971 and at Dakara Kali temple in Rampal police station area on May 21, 1971; murder, abduction, confinement and torture at three villages in Bagerhat Sadar police station area on June 18, 1971, at four other villages under the same police station on October 14, 1971, and at Shakhari Tati Bazar in Kachua police station area on November 5, 1971. Akram was convicted of the abduction and murder of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman at Teligati Bazar in Morrelganj police station area on December 13, 1971. The duo was, however, exonerated from a charge of abduction and murder at Char Tengrakhali village in Kachua police station area on October 22, 1971.
Prosecutor Haider Ali expressed satisfaction over the verdict. There was no alternative for the tribunal except to give death penalty to Siraj Master for his heinous crimes during the Liberation War, he said. Another prosecutor, Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon, said, Were happy with the verdict. Siraj, who was known as a butcher for his atrocities during the Liberation War, has got the appropriate punishment, he added. On the other hand, Sirajs counsel Mohammad Abul Hasan expressed dissatisfaction over the verdict and claimed the prosecution could not submit any single documentary evidence to prove that Siraj was the deputy commander of Razakar Bahini of the then Bagerhat sub-division. He said the defence would appeal against the verdict in the apex court. M Sarwar Hossain, counsel for Akram, also said they would file an appeal in the apex court.
Police had arrested Latif (68) from his home on June 11, 2014, after the tribunal issued arrest warrants against him, Sirajul and Akram. On September 14, 2014, the prosecution submitted a total of seven charges against the three for crimes against humanity in Bagerhat during the war.
On November 5, 2014, the ICT-1 indicted the three on the seven charges. Four of the charges were brought against Siraj alone, two against all of them for killing 47 people, and one against Akram and Latif for killing a person.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the wartime offences.
According to the prosecution, Siraj, Akram and Latif had joined the Razakars, the vigilante militia group, when the war began and assisted the Pakistani Army against liberation fighters. The accused were trained by the Pakistanis at Khulnas Ansar Camp. They collected weapons and ammunition from the Pakistani troops to unleash a campaign of murders, mass killings, pillage, and forced conversion of Hindus in different parts of Bagerhat with other Razakars. A total of 32 witnesses deposed against the three from December 2, 2014, to March 24, 2015. The trial was completed on June 23, and then on August 5, the ICT-1 announced that it would deliver its verdict on August 11.
