WAR CRIMES TRIAL
Formal charges pressed against ex-MP, 11 others
UNB
The prosecution yesterday pressed five counts of charges against former BNP and Jamaat MP Maulana Shakhawat Hossain and 11 others for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, reports UNB.
The prosecution, led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim, submitted the charges to the International Crimes Tribunal-1. The tribunal fixed September 8 to decide whether it will accept the charges against Shakhawat and others.
Earlier on November 29, 2014, police arrested former MP Maulana Sakhawat Hossain from the citys Uttarkhan area for his alleged involvement in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. There are a number of war crimes allegations against Sakhawat, including that of murder and mass killing.
A war crimes investigation agency started investigation into the crimes in April 2012.
According to the agency, Sakhawat was a central committee member of the then Islami Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir) in 1971. He was the in-charge of Hisladanga Razakar camp in Keshabpur.
Sakhawat was elected MP on Jamaat ticket from Keshabpur constituency in 1991 while on BNP ticket in the February 15 election in 1996.
Jatiya Party picked him for the January-5 election this year. However, his candidature was cancelled over the war crimes charges.
