Tribunal to try 4 Kishoreganj war crimes accused in absentia

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday decided to try four war crimes accused from Kishoreganj in absentia along with another arrestee for their alleged crimes committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim took the decision as the alleged Razakars did not appear before the court after publication of newspaper advertisements to that end.

The law enforcers had earlier failed to apprehend them as well.

The fugitives are Gazi Abdul Mannan, alleged commander of Karimganj Razakar camp, and alleged Razakar members Nasiruddin Ahmed, Hafiz Uddin and Azharul Islam.

The tribunal also appointed Abdus Shukur Khan as their counsel to defend them in the case and fixed July 28 for hearing on the charges.

The prosecution on May 10 pressed seven charges against five war crimes accused including the four fugitives. Of the five, only Shamsuddin Ahmed, 60, is behind bars.

The charges include mass killing, murder, confinement, torture, arson and looting committed in Karimganj upazila in between August 25 and November 13 in 1971, according to the prosecution.

The tribunal on June 1 ordered its registrar's office to take necessary steps in publishing advertisements in national dailies asking the four fugitives to appear before it by June 30.

But, the fugitives did not show up as of June 30, prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman told the tribunal yesterday, seeking a next order.

The tribunal once again expressed discontent over failure in arresting the fugitives.

As the prosecutor prayed for the next order, Justice Rahim said: “The accused cannot be arrested. What order would we issue now?”

As she sought date for charge hearing, the justice said: “Will all the trial have to be held in absentia?”

Earlier on several occasions, the tribunal expressed discontent over the issue and directed the government to form a monitoring committee in 15 days to secure arrest of the fugitive convicts and accused in war crimes cases, which the government complied.

The tribunal also expressed dissatisfaction over a counsel of Shamsuddin Ahmed for his lack of preparations.