Trial of four men nears final stage

The trial proceedings against four Moulvibazar men is set to enter the final stage as the International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday fixed February 18 for recording closing arguments in a war crimes case.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam fixed the date after defence counsels for the accused declined to produce any defence witness.

Earlier in the day, the tribunal completed recording the cross-examination of Hari Debnath, the investigation officer and also the last (13th) prosecution witness in the case.

After prosecution's closing argument, defence will complete their arguments and then the tribunal will keep the verdict waiting for delivery.

On May 7 last year, the court framed two charges against the four in the case filed for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

The accused are Akmal Ali Talukder, 76, Abdun Nur Talukder alias Lal Miah, 62, Anis Miah, 76, and Abdul Musabbir Miah, 64, of Rajnagar upazila in Moulvibazar.

Of them, Akmal Ali has been in jail since November 26, 2015 while the rest are on the run.

They were allegedly involved in killing, looting, arson, rape, abduction, confinement and torture between May 7 and November 24 in 1971, according to charges.

Meanwhile, the tribunal directed the prosecution to press charges, if any, on March 15 against a Rajshahi man in a case filed over wartime offences.

Yesterday, Prosecutor Zahid Imam said they have received a probe report and other documents related to the case on Sunday and need three months to prepare formal charges.

On Sunday, tribunal's investigation agency completed investigating Abdus Samad Musa, 61 of Puthia upazila of the district, and said to have found evidence against him over wartime crimes.

The agency said Musa, an alleged Razakar member, was “involved” in killings of 15 people, abduction and torture of 21 people and looting and arson in Puthia and Durgapur upazilas of the district.

Musa, a Jamaat-e-Islami activist, was arrested on January 24 last year and is now in jail.