War crimes evidence against three AL men

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday said it has found evidence against three Awami League men over their alleged involvement in crimes during the country’s Liberation War.

They were “involved” in abduction, confinement, torture and killing at Kola village in Holydhani union of Jhenidah during the war, the investigation agency’s coordinator Abdul Hannan Khan and co-coordinator Sanaul Huq said at a press conference at the capital’s Dhanmondi.

Two of the three -- Md Rashid Mia (66) and Shaheb Ali Malitha (68) from Jhenidah Sadar -- were arrested on October 22 and are now in jail. Investigators did not mention the name of the other accused.

They were involved with Jamaat-e-Islami and joined Rajakar Bahini in 1971. They later joined AL, the investigators said.

Rashid is now the president of Halydhani Union AL and also chairman of the union.

The investigators will hand over the probe report and other relevant documents to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office of the tribunal today, said Abdur Razzak Khan, investigation officer of the war crimes case.

After receiving the report and other documents, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office will prepare formal charge if those documents are found satisfactory.

The office will then submit it before the tribunal for initiating trial.