Prosecution asked to submit charges against five Moulvibazar men on May 4

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday asked the prosecution to submit the formal charges, if any, on May 4 against five Moulvibazar men for allegedly committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the 1971 Liberation War.

Yesterday was fixed for submitting the charges but prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon sought one month more time. The tribunal fixed the date allowing his prayer.

The accused are Samsul Hossain Tarafder, 65, an alleged local Al-Badr commander; Nesar Ali, 75, Yunus Ahmed, 71, Ujer Ahmed Chowdhury, 63, and Mobarak Mia, 66, alleged Razakars, according to the tribunal's investigation agency.

All of them are from Rajnagar upazila in Moulvibazar.

Of the five, Yunus and Ujer have been in jail since October 13 last year while the rest are on the run.

The agency on January 20 said to have found evidence of the "involvement" of them in six incidents of crimes committed in the district. The following day, the agency handed over the probe report and other documents to the prosecution.

The charges are killing of Danu Mia, looting and torching of three houses and confinement of three people; abduction, confinement and torture of three people and looting and torching of the houses of one Harendra Bhattacharya; killing of one Jamini Mohan Dev and abduction, confinement and torture of three people; abduction of four people including one Rasraj Bhattacharya; abduction and torture of four people and killing of two; and killing of 14 people including one Shushital Dhar.