Verdict any day

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver the verdict any day in a case filed against a Mymensingh man for allegedly committing genocide and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam placed the verdict in waiting after the defence counsel and the prosecution completed their closing arguments yesterday.

The accused, Riaz Uddin Fakir, 65, son of Nayeb Ali Fakir from Bhalukjan village in Phulbari upazila of the district, is facing four charges. He is now in jail.

During their closing arguments, Prosecutor Hrishikesh Saha sought capital punishment for the accused while defence counsel Syed Mizanur Rahman sought his acquittal.

On December 11 in 2016, the tribunal framed five charges against two people -- Riaz Uddin Fakir and Wajuddin, 70, of the same upazila. The tribunal later dropped Wajuddin's name from the case as he died of natural causes while he was on the run.

The charges brought against Riaz are abduction, torture and killing of three people of Kalairpar, Chaklauripara and Phulbaria between August 22 and 25; committing genocide by killing eight Hindus and raping three Hindu women in Rishipara on November 5; committing genocide by killing at least 43 people of six villages on November 3; and killing of three brothers of Bhalukjan on November 21.

EVIDENCE FOUND AGAINST FOUR ACCUSED

Meanwhile, the tribunal's investigation agency yesterday said it has found evidence against three Habiganj men over their alleged involvement of crimes during the Liberation War.

They were "involved" in looting, arson, abduction, confinement, torture and killings in Nabiganj of Habiganj, Sanaul Huq, coordinator of the agency, said at a press conference at the agency's Dhanmondi office.

They looted and torched houses of then Awami League National Assembly member Mostafa Ali and his neighbours and abducted, tortured and killed fathers of two freedom fighters, he said.

The accused, all members of Razakar Bahini, are Shafi Uddin, 80, Tajul Islam, 80, and Zahed Mia, 60, of Lakhai upazila. Of them, Shafi is on the run while the rest are in jail.  

Shafi was a central leader of East Pakistan Nezam-e-Islam, an anti-liberation party. He was defeated after contesting from Lakhai in the election of provincial assembly in 1970, Sanaul said.

Shafi, now involved with Jamaat-e-Islami, played a key role in founding the Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini -- two anti-liberation organisations -- in Lakhai. Razakars used his house as their office and a torture cell, he said.

Tajul and Zahed, both now supporters of BNP, were supporters of Nezam-e-Islam and joined the Razakar Bahini during the war, Sanaul said.

Later in the day, Nur Hossain, investigation officer of the case, handed over the probe report and other documents to the Chief Prosecutor's Office.