ICT sends 5 war crimes suspects of Patuakhali to jail

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday sent five war crimes suspects from Patuakhali to jail, showing them arrested in a war crimes case. 

The three-member tribunal passed the order after the prosecution filed a petition to show them arrested in the case.

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The court also asked the prosecution to submit a progress report on December 1 on the investigation into the allegations against the five that they were involved in war crimes.

The suspects are: Esahaq Shikder of Gilabunai, Abdul Goni Hawlader and Md Awal alias Awal Moulavi of Galachipa, Abdus Sattar Pyada and Solaiman Mridha of Ballav village under Patuakhali Sadar Upazila.

The five have been in jail since September 7 in connection with another criminal case. The prosecution on September 23 filed a petition to show them arrested in the war crimes case and on the same day, the tribunal asked the Patuakhali jail authorities to produce the five yesterday.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz yesterday told the tribunal that the investigation officer already found evidence of their involvement in war-time crimes and the accused need to be kept in jail for a "fair and proper investigation". 

According to the tribunal's investigation agency, Esahaq was a member of local Peace Committee, an anti-liberation organisation, while the rest were members of local Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army, during the Liberation War.