DHAKA, March 29 (NNN-BSS) – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1
sentenced five fugitive Razakars from Purbodhola, Netrokona, to death
for their crimes against humanity committed in Bangladesh’s war of independence in 1971.
The five convicts are Sheikh Md. Abdul Majid alias Majid Mawlana, 66, Md
Abdul Khalek Talukder, 67, Md Kabir Khan, 70, Abdus Salam Begh, 68, and
Nuruddin, 70.
They were tried in absentia.
“…they be hanged by the neck till they are dead, under section 20(2)
of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” said Justice Md Shahinur
Islam, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1.
The first tribunal found the convicts guilty in all the seven charges
that it framed against them.
The tribunal in its 240-page verdict further said all the convicts have
been absconding since initiation of the trial.
The tribunal said since the five convicts have been absconding, the
‘sentence of death’ as awarded above shall be executed after causing their
arrest or when they surrender before the Tribunal, whichever is earlier.
“The convicts are at liberty to prefer appeal before the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh against their conviction and
sentence within 30 days of the date of order of conviction,” the judgement
said.
The ICT-1 on Jan 28 put the judgement on CAV, a Latin legal term
meaning court awaits verdict, as the hearing in the case concluded on that
day.
“There were two more accused in the case, but Ahammad Ali, 78, and Abdur Rahman, 70, died before charge framing and during arguments respectively,” prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal told newsmen.
The prosecution on May 22, 2016, submitted the formal charge in the
case, pressing seven charges of crimes against humanity against them.
On April 19, 2017, the ICT-1 indicted the accused, framing seven charges
against them. — NNN-BSS
