Death penalty for 2 sought at ICT

The prosecution yesterday sought death penalty for Obaidul Haque Taher and Ataur Rahman Nani for allegedly committing crimes in Netrakona during the 1971 Liberation War.

Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman Badal made the plea before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, as the prosecution completed their closing arguments on factual aspects saying that they have been able to prove five of the six charges brought against them "beyond any shadow of doubt."

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The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Anwarul Haque, asked the defence counsel to place their arguments today and prosecution to place their arguments on legal points after defence submission.

Taher and Nani, two alleged members of Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani occupation army, however, pleaded not guilty before the tribunal.

A total of 23 prosecution witnesses including the investigation officer of the case testified to prove the charges. But defence declined to produce any witness.

Yesterday, Badal and Sabina Yasmin Munni placed arguments citing testimonies of the prosecution witnesses. However, the prosecutors, on several occasions, failed to answer the questions of the judges.

While Badal stood up to place arguments on the sixth charge, the prosecutor admitted that they could not produce witness from victim families and the three prosecution witnesses regarding the charge did not implicated the accused with crimes narrated in the charge.