ICT verdict on Taher, Noni today
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will deliver its verdict today on two alleged Razakars of Netrakona for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. The three-member ICT team, led by Justice Anwarul Haque, has fixed the date for its verdict. The two alleged Razakars are: Obaidul Haque alias Taher and Ataur Rahman Noni. Asserting that the prosecution has been able to produce all the evidence to prove five out of six charges against the duo beyond any doubt, prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman Badal expressed his hope that the tribunal would award the duo the death penalty for their crimes. On the other hand, defence lawyer advocate Md Abdus Subhan Tarafder expects that his clients would get an acquittal order from the tribunal as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against his clients. Earlier, on January 11, the ICT concluded the hearing on the cases and kept the cases as CAV (curia advisari vult), meaning the verdict will be delivered any day. After fixing the date, the tribunals registrar, Shahidul Alam Jhinuk, told reporters yesterday that the ICT would deliver its verdict in the cases of the two Razakars on Tuesday. He also said the ICT directed the jail authorities to produce the two accused before it at 10am on Tuesday. On March 2 last year, the ICT-1 framed six charges against the two for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
According to the probe reports, the two were allegedly known as notorious Razakars for their atrocities in various parts of Netrakona, including Sadar and Barhatta thana areas. Taher, the alleged Razakar commander, had occupied Balay Bihari Biswass house in the town and set up a Razakar camp there, the report added. The prosecution alleged that the two Razakars were involved in the abductions and killings of at least 15 persons and for looting and setting fire to some 400450 houses in 1971.
The prosecutions probe body had launched investigations on June 6, 2013, and submitted their findings on November 5, 2014. Taher, 65, and Noni, 62, who were from Mokhterpara in Netrakona town, were arrested on August 12, 2014. They were indicted on March 2, 2015 and their trial began on April 5. The defence produced no witnesses, while 23 prosecution witnesses testified against the duo. This would be the 22nd verdict in as many war crimes cases since 2010, when the first ICT was constituted.
