ICT to frame charges against five Oct 12

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday fixed October 12 to decide whether it will frame charges against five Kishoreganj "Razakars" for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the country's Liberation War.

The accused are Gazi Abdul Mannan, 88, the alleged commander of Karimganj Razakar camp, and alleged Razakar members Hafiz Uddin, 66, Azharul Islam, 60, Nasiruddin Ahmed, 62, and his brother Shamsuddin Ahmed, 60.

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Shamsuddin is now in jail while the four others are still fugitives.

During yesterday's hearing, Shamsuddin informed the tribunal that his lawyer will not conduct the case further. The three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque appointed Abdus Shukur Khan as his state defence counsel. Shukur is also defending the four fugitives.

The seven charges are killing of eight people and injuring of another of four villages on November 12; killing of Miah Hossain of Aila village on November 13; abduction and killing of Abdur Gafur of Kalatali on September 26; abduction, torture and killing of Fazlur Rahman of Atkapara on August 23; killing of Paresh Chandra Sarkar of Ramnagar on September 7; torture and killing of Abu Bakar Siddique and another person on August 25; and arson and vandalism in Atkapara on September 15.

JP MP SENT TO JAIL

The same tribunal yesterday sent four war crimes accused, including lawmaker from Trishal (Mymensingh-7 constituency) and presidium member of Jatiya Party MA Hannan and his son Rafique Sajjad, to jail after police produced them before it.

Hannan, alleged general secretary of Mymensingh Peace Committee, an anti-liberation organisation in 1971, and his son were arrested by Gulshan police while Mymensingh police arrested Khandakar Golam Sabbir Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman Mintu and Hormuj Ali in their respective homes on Thursday, hours after the tribunal issued arrest warrants for eight people.

Hormuj was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital after being injured in a road accident on the day of his arrest. Police produced the four before a Dhaka court on Friday, as the tribunal was closed on that day.

Three others accused -- Mohammad Abdus Sattar, Mohammad Fakruzzaman and Khandakar Golam Rabbani-- are yet to be detained, prosecution and investigation agency sources said. 

Qutubuddin Ahmed yesterday submitted vocalatnama (power of attorney) for Sabbir Ahmed while the three others were yet to appoint any lawyers. The tribunal fixed November 17 for passing the next order.