Verdict on 5 Kishoreganj ‘Razakars’ Tuesday

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is set to deliver its verdicts against five alleged war criminals hailing from Kishoreganj on Tuesday.

The three-member ICT led by Justice Anwarul Haque on Monday fixed the date for delivering the verdict.

Earlier on April 11, the ICT kept the case on CAV (curia advisory vault) after closing the law-point arguments from both sides.

The five accused war criminals face seven charges, including murder, mass killing, torture, abduction and torching.

Public Prosecutors Zaed Al Malum, Sultan Mahmud Shimon and Rezia Sultana Chaman placed the closing arguments before the tribunal while Advocate Shamsuddin, Masud Rana and Abdus Shukkur submitted their arguments on behalf of the accused.

The prosecution sought highest punishment for the accused while the defence lawyers said the prosecution failed to probe allegations brought against the accused.

This will be 23rd verdict in war crimes case in the country.

The accused are Advocate Shamsuddin Ahmed, his brother Captain (retd) Nasiruddin Ahmed, Razakar commander Gazi Abdul Mannan, Hafiz Uddin and Azharul Islam.

Of them, all but Shamsuddin Ahmed have been on the run.

On May 13, 2015, the tribunal took cognisance of charges against the five accused over seven allegations.

The accused reportedly committed crimes against humanity in Bidyanagar, Ayla, Fatergup beel and Piratan beel in Karimganj upazila of Kishoreganj district during the 1971 Liberation War.

Ataur Rahman, investigation officer of the case, submitted a report against the five accused on October 12, 2015.

With inputs from UNB