War Crimes: Tribunal's verdict on five Netrakona men any day

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict any day in the case filed against five Netrakona men over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, kept the verdict waiting after both prosecution and defence completed their closing arguments, said Prosecutor Sabina Yesmin Munni.

Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal sought capital punishment for all the accused, saying their involvement have been proved beyond reasonable doubt, while Gazi MH Tamim, the state-appointed defence counsel for the five men, sought acquittal of all accused.

The accused Sheikh Abdul Majid, 66; Abdul Khaleque Talukder, 67; Kabir Khan, 70; Salam Begh, 68; and Nuruddin, 70, are on the run. Another accused Abdur Rahman, 70, died of old age complications during the trial.

According to prosecution, all the accused are from Purbadhala upazila. They were involved with Razakar Bahini -- an auxiliary force of the Pakistani occupation army, and committed abductions, torture, lootings, arsons, rape and murders in 1971.

The tribunal framed seven charges against them on April 19, 2017 and prosecution produced 26 witnesses, while the defence declined to produce any witnesses.