Dhaka – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday concluded the hearing in a case file against six persons including a former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker accused of war crimes for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 in Gaibandha, keeping the verdict pending for any day.After hearing the arguments from both the prosecution and the defence lawyers, the three-member tribunal, headed by its chairman Justice Md Shahinur Islam, kept the verdict as CAV (a Latin legal term meaning the court awaits judgment).
The five other accused are Ruhul Amin alias Manju, Abu Muslim Md Ali, Abdul Latif, Najmul Huda and Abdur Rahim Mia. Five accused among the six were absconding while the rest of one accused Abdul Latif in jail.
During the hearing, prosecutor Syed Saidul Haque prayed for capital punishment for all the accused saying that they have been able to prove all three charges brought against them.
On the other hand, Advocate Gazi MH Tamim, counsel for five fugitives, and Khandaker Rezaul Karim stood for the lone detained defendant, prayed to the court for the acquittal of the accused saying that the prosecution has failed to prove to their clients.
The accused are facing three charges — looting and killing of a Hindu man at Moujamali village in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, the killing of a Chhatra League leader, and killing of 13 chairmen and members of five unions in Sundarganj.
Earlier on May 9, the tribunal kept the verdict pending for any day, after hearing arguments from both sides.
But, on October 12, the reconstructed tribunal set October 22 for placing further arguments in crimes against humanity case against the six alleged razakars.
The ICT had on June 28, 2016, started trial after indicting the accused with three charges of crimes against humanity against them. – Staff Reporter
