WAR CRIMES
Trial of five Kishoreganj accused starts
UNB
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday started recording depositions of witnesses on seven specific charges framed against five people for their alleged involvement in the crimes against humanity in Karimganj of Kishoreganj district during the Liberation War of 1971, reports UNB.
The three-member tribunal panel, headed by Justice Md Anwarul Haque, recorded the depositions of two prosecution witnesses - Md Mehedi Ullah and Adam Ali -on the day.
Later, the two witnesses cross-examined by Abdus Shukur Khan, a defence counsel appointed by the state.
The tribunal will continue to record the testimony of other witnesses on Thursday. Earlier on Oct 12, the ICT framed seven charges against the five.
The charges include mass killing, murder, confinement, torture, arson and looting.
The five accused are Advocate Shamsuddin Ahmed, his brother Captain (retd) Nasiruddin Ahmed, Razakar commander Gazi Abdul Mannan, Hafiz Uddin and Azharul Islam. All of them except Shamsuddin have been on the run.
Samsuddins lawyer Atikur Rahman and Abdus Shukur Khan, who has been appointed by the state for the four other absconding accused, will represent the defence during the trial.
On the other hand, Jiad Al Malum and Sultan Mahmud Sumon will represent the state.
On May 13 this year, the tribunal took cognisance of charges against the five accused. The accused reportedly committed crimes against humanity in Bidyanagar, Ayla, Fatergup beel, Piratan beel in Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj district during the 1971 Liberation War.
