Forkan Mallik

A tribunal in Dhaka today framed five charges against suspected war criminal Forkan Mallik for his alleged crimes against humanity committed in Patuakhali during the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

A Razakar commander in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali, the 63-year-old was involved in anti-liberation Muslim League, according to the case statement.

Forkan pleaded not guilty when the International Crimes Tribunal-2 read out the charges against him. Later, the tribunal fixed January 19 for beginning the trial.

Prosecution on November 17 pressed eight charges against the alleged Razakar commander, hails from Chailabunia village in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali.

The charges include mass killing, murder, rape, arson and forced religious conversion.

Earlier on June 25, the Detective Branch of police arrested Forkan at Rupatali Bus Stand in Barisal. He was later shown arrested in the war crimes case.

An investigation agency of the international crimes tribunals completed investigation into the allegations against him on October 27.