Reconstituted court decides to hear charges afresh

Recently reconstituted with a new chairman and two members, International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday decided to hold a fresh hearing on seven war crimes charges against five "Razakars" from Kishoreganj's Karimganj, asking the prosecution and defence to place submissions today.

Formerly a member of the tribunal, Justice Anwarul Haque was made its chairman by the government on September 15 while High Court judges Justice Md Shahinur Islam, a former Tribunal-2 member, and Justice Md Shohrowardi were incorporated into it. Tribunal-2 was made dormant.

Of the five accused, Gazi Abdul Mannan, 88, is the alleged commander of Karimganj Razakar camp while its alleged Razakar members are Nasiruddin Ahmed, 62, his brother Shamsuddin Ahmed, 60, Hafiz Uddin, 66, and Azharul Islam, 60. Shamsuddin is now in jail while the rest are absconding according to police.

The charges are: killing of eight people and injuring of another of four villages on November 12; killing of Miah Hossain of Aila village on November 13; abduction and killing of Abdur Gafur of Kalatali on September 26; abduction, torture and killing of Fazlur Rahman of Atkapara on August 23; killing of Paresh Chandra Sarkar of Ramnagar on September 7; torture and killing of Abu Bakar Siddique and Rapali on August 25; and arson and vandalism in Atkapara on September 15.