Charge framing decision against 2 Kishoreganj 'Razakars' May 9

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday fixed May 9 to decide whether it will frame charges against two Kishoreganj “Razakars” for allegedly committing crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.

The three-member tribunal of Justice Anwarul Haque, Justice Md Shahinur Islam and Justice Md Shohrowardi set the date after prosecution and defence counsel completed their submissions.

The accused are: Syed Mohammad Hussain alias Hossain, 64, younger brother of convicted war criminal Syed Hasan Ali, and Muhammad Moslem Pradhan, 66, of Kishoreganj. Of them, Moslem is in jail and Hussain is on the run.

The prosecution on December 3 last year pressed six specific charges against them, including war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949.

Yesterday, Prosecutor Tureen Afroz read out the charges and placed submission giving reasons why the two accused should be indicted and face trial. Defence counsel Abdus Sattar Palwan prayed for their discharge saying that they were not involved in such crimes.

Meanwhile, the tribunal granted a prosecution witness to allow investigation agency to interrogate four war crimes accused of Netrakona at the agency's safe home.

Accused Azizur Rahman, 65, Ashak Ali, 82, Md Shahnewaz, 88, and Ramjan Ali, 78, of Durgapur upazila in the district, can be interrogated for a day from May 2 to 5.

Police on April 13 arrested them; after the tribunal ordered the arrest of five men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War. Fifth accused, Khalilur Rahman, 72, brother of Azizur, is yet to be arrested.