War crimes trial
Order to start trial of four war criminals
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) yesterday passed the order to start trail of four Razakars of Kishoreganj in absentia in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice M Enayetur Rahim ordered to initiate trial against the fugitive razakar commander Gazi Abdul Mannan,88, of Karimganj and razakar members-Nasiruddin Ahmed,62, Hafiz Uddin66, and Azharul Islam,60. Earlier, the tribunal asked the authorities concerned to submit report if five fugitive accused are arrested.
The five Razakars are: siblings of Karimganj Upazila retired army man, captain Md Nasiruddin Ahmed, and Kishoreganj district Bar Council member, Md Shamsuddin Ahmed, Kishoreganj razakar commander, Gazi Abdul Mannan, Hafiz Uddin and Azharul Islam.
On May 10, the prosecution pressed seven charges, including mass killing, murder, confinement, torture, arson and looting in Karimganj upazila between August 25 and November 13 during the Liberation War.
Of them, Shamsuddin is now in jail while the rest went into hiding. The tribunal issued arrest warrant following submission of the investigation report on April 15. The tribunal expressed dismay over failure of arresting four other razakars.
The charges are: killing of eight people and injuring of another of four villages on November 12; killing of Miah Hossain of Aila village on November 13; abduction and killing of Abdur Gafur of Kalatali on September 26; abduction, torture and killing of Fazlur Rahman of Atkapara on August 23; killing of Paresh Chandra Sarkar of Ramnagar on September 7; torture and killing of Abu Bakar Siddique and Rapali on August 25; and arson and vandalism in Atkapara on September 15.
The tribunal decided to hold trial of four alleged Razakars of Kishoreganj in absentia. There are 40 prosecution witnesses in the case.
