ICT verdict in Kishoreganj Razakar duo case any day
Tribunal seeks police report on Netrakona Razakar Anju
BSS
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 will deliver any day the verdict in crimes against humanity case against two alleged Razakars from Nikli, Kishoreganj, as it wrapped up the hearing of the caseyesterday, reports BSS.
We are keeping the case on CAV (curia advisory vault, a Latin legal term meaning court awaits verdict), said Justice Anwarul Haque, chairman of the three-member ICT-1.
Earlier in the day, advocate Abdus Sattar Palwan argued for the acquittal of the two accused Syed Mohammad Hossain, 65, and Moslem Prodhan, 68. Of the two, Prodhan is in custody and was present during the hearing yesterday.
Prodhan is actually an innocent and poor farmer, who has nothing to do with those monstrous crimes, whereas Hossain was then sub-inspector of Nikli Police Station, who was in-charge of that station in 1971, Palwan said in his argument. The defence counsels argument was predominantly focused on the defence of Prodhan, referring different documents and testimonies of prosecution and defence witnesses for his case.
Senior prosecutor Tureen Afroz, who concluded her part of arguments yesterday, however, said no special qualification was needed for becoming a Razakar.
Anyone, regardless of his social and financial status, holding a gun could act as a Razakar. So defences argument in support of Pradhan cannot stand here, Tureen said.
She also rebutted the defence argument on the timing of a particular fight, saying, it is just an argument for the sake of it, adding, He (Palwan) is not denying the atrocities, the ferocity of the accused.
Tureen summed up her rebuttal by pleading capital punishment for the two accused, saying the defence has not been able to cast any doubt on prosecution case thus the case of the prosecution stands firmly.
Meanwhile, the senior prosecutor in her reaction to the newsmen after the days hearing, said, the prosecution for the first time has pleaded before the court to consider rape and forced conversion during the war as genocide, saying we have submitted references of different international courts in support of our argument. It can open a new chapter or door which can become an example.
According to the prosecution, Prodhan was the Razakar commander of then Nikli union, while Hossain was the commander of Nikli thana. The prosecution on December 3, 2015, submitted formal charge in the case, pressing six charges of the crimes against humanity against the accused. The ICT-1 on January 7, 2016, took the charges into cognizance and indicted the duo on May 9, 2016.
The prosecution on June 5, 2016, submitted the opening statement, initiating the hearing of the case formally.
Meanwhile, the ICT-1 also sought report from Superintendant of Netrokona Police on the whereabouts of alleged Razakar Hedayetullah Anju, 80.
The tribunal passed the order as the prosecution informed the court that they are still in dark about the current location of the fugitive as they have not received any report from the police.
Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal drew tribunals attention to this matter, adding Anjus younger brother and partner in crimes Enayet Ullah Manju, 70, has died in police custody on January 25, 2017, and other accused Sohrab Fakir, 88, is in jail now. Justice Anwarul Haque, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1,then adjourned the hearing of the case till April 24.
Meanwhile, the tribunal also deferred hearing of crimes against humanity case against four alleged war criminals from Noakhali, till April 5.
Yesterday was fixed for continuing recording the depositions of prosecution witnesses in case against Md Amir Ahmed alias Amir Ali, Abul Kalam alias AKM Mansur, Md Joynal Abedin and Md Abdul Quddus. Their another partner in crimes Md Yusuf has died during the trial.
The ICT-1 on June 20, 2016, framed five charges against the accused and the tribunal till now has recorded depositions of 10 prosecution witnesses.
