Tribunal wants 5 Patuakhali suspects before it Oct 1

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday directed the Patuakhali jail authorities to produce five war crime suspects from the district before it on October 1.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque passed the order following a prosecution's petition to show them arrested in a war crime case.

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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.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz, who moved the petition before the tribunal, said that investigation against the five started on February 18 this year and the investigation officer has already found evidence about their involvement in the wartime offences, including genocide and rape.

She said the five have been in jail since September 7 in connection with another criminal case. But they need to be shown arrested in the war crime case because they might flee after securing bail in the criminal case, added Tureen.

After her submission, the tribunal asked the Patuakhali jail authorities to produce the five before it to hear the petition in presence of the suspects on October 1.

Satya Ranjan Roy, the investigation officer of the case, said Esahaq was member of local Peace Committee, an anti-liberation organisation, while the rest four were members of local Razakar Bahini, an auxiliary force of Pakistani army, during the Liberation War in 1971.