ICT accepts 6 charges against two

International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday accepted six specific charges over the alleged involvement of two “Razakars” in crimes committed in Kishoreganj during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque also fixed February 15 to pass the next order in the case against Syed Mohammad Hussain alias Hossain, 64, younger brother of convicted war criminal Syed Hasan Ali, and Muhammad Moslem Pradhan, 66.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz yesterday placed a brief submission on the charges, pressed on December 3 last year, of “war crimes” and violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, a first for cases involving crimes committed during the Liberation War.

The remaining crimes against humanity and genocide charges, brought in previous cases, were over abduction, torture, rape and murder.

Syed Mohammad was originally from Machihata village (Pir Bari) in Brahmanbaria sadar upazila and had been living with his family in Kishoreganj sadar upazila since 1936 as his father worked there, according to the tribunal's investigation agency.

He was the alleged commander of the Razakar Bahini in Nikli and known as “Razakarer Daroga” while Syed Hasan of Tarail upazila in 1971. Moslem was a Razakar member and Syed Mohammad's associate, it said.

Syed Mohammad left for Malaysia on May 21, 2014 and the investigations began on November 13 that year, according to the agency. Interpol has already issued a red notice and talked to Malaysian police to bring him back, it said.

Moslem, of Kamarhati village in Nikli upazila, was arrested on July 8 last year after the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against the duo.

BRAHMANBARIA WAR CRIMES

The tribunal also sent a war crimes accused, Emdadul Haque, 78, from Brahmanbaria to jail after police produced him.

Police arrested Emdadul hours after the tribunal issued a warrant yesterday over his alleged involvement in crimes committed in Brahmanbaria during the Liberation War. Prosecutors say Emdadul was the chief of the Peace Committee of Chunta union during the Liberation War.