Tribunal seeks formal charges March 14

International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday granted prosecutors time and fixed March 14 for submission of formal charges, if there were any, over the alleged involvement of two persons from Habiganj and Kishoreganj in crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Prosecutors, through a petition, sought two months to scrutinise documents, including the probe report and witnesses' statements, provided by the tribunal's investigation agency on Tuesday, for submitting the charges.

The agency on Sunday said to have found evidence against Liakat Ali, 61, the immediate past president of Awami League's Lakhai upazila unit in Habiganj, and Aminul Islam alias Rajab Ali, 62, of Astogram upazila in Kishoreganj.

According to the agency, Liakat, a Razakar Bahini commander, and Aminul, who organised and led an Al-Badr Bahini, committed the crimes including genocide and murders in association with the Pakistani occupation army.

Meanwhile, the tribunal rejected a bail prayer of Salamat Ullah, a war crimes accused from Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar arrested over his alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War.

On Sunday, Salamat's lawyer moved the petition citing his poor health and old age.

On October 8, the agency said to have found evidence against 19 Maheshkhali men, including Salamat, who is a former vice president of Maheshkhali Convention Muslim League and convener of Maheshkhali Peace Committee in 1971.

In 1978, he became the founding president of BNP's Cox's Bazar district unit and is currently a member of the party.