Death sought for Forkan Mallik

The prosecution yesterday sought capital punishment for Forkan Mallik, 64, an alleged Razakar who was active in Patuakhali's Mirzaganj upazila during the 1971 Liberation War, for crimes including murders and rapes he allegedly committed.

Completing placing closing arguments on factual aspects, Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal told International Crimes Tribunal-2 that the prosecution believes they were able to prove all five charges "beyond reasonable doubt".

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam fixed today to hear arguments from Forkan's lawyer.

Meanwhile, International Crimes Tribunal-1 ordered its registrar office to take steps in publishing advertisements in national dailies asking four fugitive war crimes suspects to appear before it by July 1.

Police submitted a report on Sunday saying it could not execute the tribunal's arrest warrants, for the four were on the run, Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman told The Daily Star.

The prosecution on May 10 pressed seven charges against five suspects including the four -- Gazi Abdul Mannan, 88, the alleged Karimganj Razakar camp commander, and alleged Razakar members Nasiruddin Ahmed, 62, Hafiz Uddin, 66, and Azharul Islam, 60.

The remaining, Shamsuddin Ahmed, 60, is in jail.

The charges include mass killing, murder, confinement, torture, arson and looting committed in Kishoreganj's Karimganj upazila between August 25 and November 13. The tribunal fixed July 1 to pass the next order.