Tribunal seeks charges July 26

With the prosecution seeking three weeks' time for preparations, International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday asked to submit on July 26 formal charges against 12 Jessore war crimes suspects including former BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shakhawat Hossain.

The charges were due yesterday but Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman said they had received just on June 18 the probe report and other relevant documents from the tribunal's investigation agency.

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Completing their probe, investigators on June 14 said they found "evidence" of crimes against humanity the 12 

allegedly committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

They were said to be involved in killing two persons, raping one and torturing two others in Keshabpur of Jessore in the Bangla month of Ashwin (between mid-September and mid-October).

Of the 12, four including Shakhawat, 61, now involved in Jatiya Party politics, are in jail. The remaining arrestees are Billal Hossain Biswas, 75, of Nehalpur village; Akram Hossain, 59, of Bhalukghar Mollapara; and Ajihar Morol, 64, of Chingra village.

Ibrahim Hossain of Nehalpur, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman and Kazi Ohidul Islam of Shekhpura, Aziz Sardar of Mominpur, Aziz Sardar of Boga, Lutfar Morol of Porchakra, Abdul Khaleq Morol of Altapol and Moshiar Rahman of Chingra are on the run.

BAGERHAT RAZAKARS

Meanwhile, the defence completed placing closing arguments in the case against three "Bagerhat Razakars" facing seven charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Bagerhat during the Liberation War.

The tribunal asked the prosecution to place their arguments on law points and rebuttal, after which the defence will submit their submission tomorrow. The tribunal can then either keep the verdict waiting or fix a date to pronounce it.

Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master's state-appointed counsel Abul Hasan yesterday placed arguments on the first four charges related to Siraj. On Thursday, Sarwar Hossain, lawyer of Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukdar, completed arguments on the fifth, sixth and seventh charges.