Trial of 7 people in progress in ITC

Trials are going on in International Crimes Tribunals (ICTs) in four cases against seven people for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, reports BSS.

The seven accused in four cases are Sheikh Sirajul Haq alias Siraj Master, Abdul Latif and Khan Akram Hossain of Bagerhat, Syed M Hasan Ali alias Hasen Ali of Brahmanbaria, Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain Chutu of Chapainawabganj and Forkan Mallik of Patuakhali.

Charges were framed in the case against Sheikh Sirajul Haq alis Siraj Master, Abdul Latif and Khan Akram Hossain on November 5. The eight witnesses are giving depositions against them in the tribunal.

Recording depositions of witnesses is continuing against absconding accused Hasel Ali.

In a case against Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain Chutu of Chapainawabganj, charges were formed on December 11. The tribunal has fixed January 12, 2015 to start recording depositions of the witnesses.

Charges were framed against Forkan Ali of Patuakhali on December 18. The witnesses will start making depositions in the case from January 19.

Besides, hearing will take place on January 7 to frame charges in a case against M Obaidul Haq Taher and Ataur Rahman Noni of Netrakona.

Currently, Jatiya Party leader and former Jamaat MP from Jessore-6 constituency Sakhawat Hossain and Advocate Shamsuddin of Kishoreganj are now in jail in cases for crimes against humanity. Dates have been fixed for filing investigation reports against them.

Four cases are awaiting delivery of judgment anytime. Accused in the cases are Jamaat Nayebe Ameer Abdus Sobhan and Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam and Jatiya Party former state minister Syed Mohammad Kaiser and Jatiya Party former MP Engineer Abdul Jabbar (absconding).

While talking, Tribunal's Senior Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali hoped that the verdicts would be pronounced soon.

He said the tribunals so far delivered verdicts against 18 accused in 13 cases.