ICT's decision on indictment Feb 14

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) yesterday fixed February 14 to decide whether it will frame charges against 11 Mymensingh men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam fixed the date and kept in record a petition filed by an accused to give testimony as an approver.

For the first time in the history of war crimes trial in Bangladesh, accused Abdul Latif, 58, of Pagla in Mymensingh has decided to give testimony as an approver and filed a petition on December 24 last year.

The tribunal will pass an order on the petition if charges are framed in the case, said Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman.

As per the prosecution, the accused were involved with the Razakar Bahini during the Liberation War and committed crimes that include killing four people, torturing nine, looting and committing arson, abduction and confinement.

On April 5 last year, the prosecution pressed four charges against the 11 men.

Of the accused, six including Khalilur Rahman Mir alias Khalilur Rahman, 62, Md Samsuzzaman alias Abul Kalam, 65, Mohammad Abdullah, 62, Mohammad Abdul Malek Akand alias Abul Hossain, 68, and Md Rois Uddin Azadi alias Akkel Ali, 74 and Latif are now in jail.

The fugitives are ASM Faizullah, 66, Abdur Razzak Mandal, 64, Alim Uddin Khan, 77, Nurul Amin Shahjahan, 69, and Sirajul Islam, 66.