War criminals Mahidur, Afsar to challenge tribunal’s verdict

Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain Chutu will appeal against the tribunal’s verdict of life in prison for crimes committed during 1971 Liberation War.

After the verdict on Wednesday, defence lawyer Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar told reporters, “We are waiting for the full copy of the verdict. We will file an appeal once we get the copy.”

Razakar members of Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj, Mahidur and Afsar were found guilty of crimes against humanity – killing, looting, arson, abduction and torture – and were given prison terms until death by the tribunal.

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan delivered the judgment on Wednesday.

The prosecution had brought three charges against them for crimes against humanity committed in 1971.

The tribunal’s judges unanimously awarded the duo imprisonment until death on the first charge.

On the second charge, the verdict was a five-year prison term.

The third charge was dropped as the duo had already been sentenced under the 1972 Collaborators Act on the same charge.

Criticising the prosecution, Tarafdar dubbed the investigating officials ‘useless’ and claimed that the investigation officer had made a lot of mistakes.

“On the third allegation, my clients have already been prosecuted and yet the verdict gave life imprisonment.

“The investigation officer has investigated the same charge.”

In the appeal, the ‘inefficiency’ of the investigation officer would also be mentioned, Tarafdar added.