War crimes trial
Arguments in 6 Gaibandha Razakars case deferred
Cognizance order in three Moulvibazar
accused case May 30
BSS
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 yesterday adjourned till May 8 the arguments in crimes against humanity case against six alleged Razkars, including former lawmaker Abdul Aziz alias Ghoramara Aziz, from Gaibandha.
On April 16, 2017 was fixed for placing arguments in the case. But one of the judges of the three-member panel was absent yesetrday as he is on leave.
The tribunal then adjourned the hearing accepting a time plea from the prosecution, said prosecutor Syed Sayedul Haque Suman.
The six accused are Jamaat leader and former lawmaker Abdul Aziz, 65, Md Ruhul Amin alias Monju, 61, Md Abdul Latif, 61, Abu Muslim Mohammad Ali, 59, Md Nazmul Huda, 60, and Md Abdur Rahim Miah, 62.
All the accused but Latif are being tried in absentia as the law enforcement agencies are yet to arrest them.
The ICT-1 on March 20, 2016, indicted the accused, framing three charges of crimes against humanity against them.
A total of 15 prosecution witnesses, including two investigation officers, testified in the case, while there were no defence witnesses to vouch for the accused.
According to the prosecution, Ghoramara Aziz and Monju raised local Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini when the war broke out in 1971.
They committed crimes against humanity including genocide in their locality with the help of other accused.
Meanwhile, The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 yesterday set May 30 to pass order whether to take into cognizance the charges of crimes against humanity against three alleged Razakars from Barlekha upazila of Moulvibazar.
The three accused are Abdul Aziz alias Habul, Abdul Mannan alias Monai Miah and Abdul Matin.
Habul and Monai are now in jail while Matin is still on the run.
ICT-1 chairman Justice Anwarul Haque was absent during the last hearing date. So, he wanted to hear about the present status of the case and the accused.
We took part in the hearing and the tribunal then set May 30 to pass cognizance order, prosecutor Sabina Yesmin Khan told BSS.
Earlier the prosecution has pressed five charges against the accused.
According to the prosecution, the trio was involved with local Razakar Bahini, carrying out monstrous crimes in their locality in 1971. The investigation agency of the ICT launched probe against the trio on October 16, 2014, and finalized its report on November 14, 2016.
The investigation agency found their involvement in incidents of murder, torture, arson, looting and rape committed during the Liberation War of 1971.
