11 Mymensingh men indicted

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday framed four charges against 11 Mymensingh men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam also fixed April 12 to commence trial proceedings when testimony of prosecution witnesses will be recorded.

For the first time in the history of war crimes trial in Bangladesh, one of the accused of the case -- Abdul Latif, 58, of Pagla in the district -- had intended to give testimony as an approver and filed a petition on December 24 last year.

To give testimony as an approver, an accused has to plead guilty. Nevertheless, yesterday, when the tribunal asked him whether he would plead guilty or not, Latif pleaded not guilty. Under the circumstances, charges were framed against him, Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman said.

The tribunal has asked Latif's lawyers to submit fresh petition if he still wants to give testimony as an approver, the prosecutor said. On April 5 last year, the prosecution pressed four charges against the 11 men.

As per the prosecution, the accused were involved with the Razakar Bahini during the Liberation War and committed crimes that include killing four people, torturing nine, looting and committing arson, abduction and confinement.

Of the accused, six including Latif, Khalilur Rahman Mir alias Khalilur Rahman, 62, Mohammad Samsuzzaman alias Abul Kalam, 65, Mohammad Abdullah, 62, Abdul Malek Akand alias Abul Hossain, 68, and Rois Uddin Azadi alias Akkel Ali, 74, are now in jail. The rest -- ASM Faizullah, 66, Abdur Razzak Mandal, 64, Alim Uddin Khan, 77, Nurul Amin Shahjahan, 69, and Sirajul Islam, 66 -- are on the run.