Kaiser to hang for 1971 war crimes

Former Jatiya Party (JP) minister and ex-Muslim League leader Syed Mohammed Kaiser has been sentenced to death for crimes against humanity committed during Bangladesh’s independence struggles in 1971. The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 delivered the verdict in Kaiser’s presence on Tuesday afternoon. The ICT-2, led by Justice Obaidul Hassan, found him guilty in 14 out of the 16 charges brought against him. Kaiser, a Muslim League leader in 1971, was later a minister of state in the government of military ruler Hussain Mohammed Ershad. He has been charged with murder, massacre, rape, extortion, arson and torture in 16 cases filed with the tribunal. The ICT-2 started delivering the verdict after 10am. The tribunal bfinished hearing out the defence and the prosecution in Kaiser's case in August and kept the judgement pending, according to private TV channels.