Defence witnesses to testify from April 2

With the last prosecution witness' cross-examination ending yesterday, International Crimes Tribunal-1 fixed April 2 to begin recording testimonies of defence witnesses in the war crimes case against three alleged Bagerhat Razakars -- Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master, Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder.

Meanwhile, a kin testified before International Crimes Tribunal-2 over Forkan Mallik identifying a local Awami League leader, after which the Pakistani occupation army shot the man dead, and also bayoneting the man's wife in Patuakhali during the 1971 Liberation War.

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TRIBUNAL-1

The tribunal allowed Akram and Latif's lawyer M Sarwar Hossain to produce four witnesses, whose identities would be submitted in a day or two, against an appeal for 20 while Siraj's state-appointed lawyer did not wish to produce any.

The prosecution produced 32 witnesses, including the investigation officer, to prove seven charges of the three's alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide during the Liberation War.

TRIBUNAL-2

Abdul Hamid Mallik, the 13th prosecution witness, said he had heard about Forkan's role from Shanti Kabiraj, Chan Miah, Habibur Rahman and others immediately after Deben Doctor and Bivarani were murdered in their house in Subidkhali Bazar on August 12, 1971.

Shanti, Chan and Habibur as witnesses had testified to the incident.

Hamid said Forkan forced three Hindu men to convert to Islam on August 15 and two days later he and his associates raped a Hindu girl before shooting her dead.

The 59-year-old had filed a case against Forkan in 2009 with a Mirzaganj's court in Patuakhali in connection with the crimes.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam adjourned proceedings until today, when Hamid will face cross-examination.

Forkan, an alleged Razakar from Mirzaganj, denies the five charges including murders and rapes committed in the southern district in 1971.