Court denies bail to Jessore war crime suspects

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday rejected bail petitions of two war crimes accused from Jessore, who were allegedly involved in crimes committed in the district during the Liberation War in 1971.

On November 3, defence counsels of Billal Hossain and Lutfar Morol filed the bail petitions citing poor health condition of the two.

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The three-member tribunal yesterday rejected the petitions saying the duo cannot be granted bail at this moment as charges have already been pressed against them, said Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman.    

The tribunal, however, directed the jail authorities to take necessary steps for their medical treatment, she said.

Billal and Lutfar are among nine war crimes accused from Jessore, who are facing five charges.

The seven others are: former BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shakhawat Hossain, Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman, Kazi Ohidul Islam, Aziz Sardar, another Aziz Sardar, and Abdul Khaleq Morol.

The seven, except Shakhawat, who is in jail, are on the run.

The tribunal also adjourned the case proceedings until November 22 following a time petition filed by Abdus Sattar Palwan, a lawyer for Shakhawat and Billal.

Earlier in the day, Abdus Shukur Khan and Qutubuddin Ahmed, state appointed defence counsel for the seven others accused, placed their submission on charge hearing.

MA HANNAN'S CASE

Meanwhile, the prosecution yesterday submitted the progress report of the investigation against eight war crimes accused from Mymensingh, including Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Hannan, over their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War.

The tribunal directed the prosecution to submit another progress report on January 25 after it sought four months time to complete the investigation, said Rezia Sultana.

Of the eight, Hannan, the alleged general secretary of Mymensingh district Peace Committee, his son Rafique Sajjad, Khandakar Golam Sabbir Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman Mintu and Hormuj Ali are now in jail, while Mohammad Abdus Sattar, Mohammad Fakruzzaman and Khandakar Golam Rabbani are on the run.

TAHER AND NANI CASE

Meanwhile, the tribunal completed recording the cross-examination of Shahjahan Kabir, the investigation officer and also the last prosecution witness in the case against Obaidul Haque Taher and Ataur Rahman Nani, and fixed December 2 for recording testimony of defence witnesses.