Charges accepted against two Mymensingh men

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday accepted five charges against two Mymensingh men of genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque fixed May 16 for passing the next order.

Accused Riaz Uddin Fakir, 65, son of Nayeb Ali Fakir of Bhalukjan village, is now in jail, and Wajuddin, 70, son of Joynal Abedin of Bidyananda village under Phulbaria upazila, on the run.

The five charges filed on March 23 are abduction, torture and killing of three people of Kalairpar, Chaklauripara and Phulbaria municipality between August 22 and 25; killing of three people of Bidyananda and Betbari on August 27; an  incident of genocide in which eight Hindus were killed and three Hindu women raped in Risipara on November 5; another incident of genocide in which at least 43 people of six villages were killed on November 3; and killing of three brothers of Bhalukjan on November 21.

NOAKHALI CASE

The tribunal decided to try Abul Kalam alias AKM Mansur in absentia, along with four other detained accused of Sudharam upazila of Noakhali, for their alleged wartime crimes.

The decision came as Mansur did not appear before it even though advertisements were published in national dailies.

May 12 was fixed for hearing of the charges.

The other accused of the case, Abdul Kuddus, 84, Amir Ali, 70, Md Joynal Abedin, 73, and Mohammad Yusuf, 60, are now in jail.

Meanwhile, the tribunal denied bail to Kuddus and asked the jail authorities to provide necessary treatment to him.

The prosecution on October 5 last year pressed three charges against the five over the killing of at least 111 people.

HABIGANJ CASE

The tribunal completed recording the cross-examination of Nur Hossain, the investigation officer of the case, filed against three accused from Baniachang upazila of Habiganj.

The court fixed April 4 for recording the testimony of the defence witness.

Muhibur Rahman alias Boromian, Mujibur Rahman alias Angur Mian, and Abdur Razzak face four charges.