Tribunal starts reading out verdict on five war crimes suspects from Kishoreganj

The Bangladesh war crimes tribunal has started delivering its verdict over five war crimes suspects from Kishoreganj.

The prosecution has levelled seven charges against them for abduction, torture, murder, looting and arson committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Among the five accused, only Shamsuddin Ahmed is present on the docks.

The four others are absconding. They are Shamsuddin’s brother retired army captain Md Nasiruddin Ahmed, ‘Razakar Commander’ Gazi Abdul Mannan, Ajharul Islam and Hafiz Uddin.

The proceedings began after 10:30am on Tuesday at the International Crimes Tribunal chaired by Justice Anwarul Haque.

Shamsuddin Ahmed

Shamsuddin Ahmed was brought at the tribunal premises from the Dhaka Central Jail around 9am and kept in the cell until the proceedings began, the tribunal’s Registrar Shahidul Alam told bdnews24.com.

With Tuesday’s verdict , the war crimes tribunal will finish its 23rd trial over crimes against humanity in 1971.

Meanwhile, the top court on Tuesday has started to hear a plea by war crimes convict Motiur Rahman Nizami to review his death sentence.

Security measures have been beefed up in and around the premises of the Supreme Court and the tribunal.

Everyone entering the apex court had to provide proof of identity and in some case, had to go through a search by security forces.

In October last year, trial against five war crimes suspect from Kishoreganj began after the tribunal indicted them.

The tribunal kept its verdict pending after the arguments ended on Apr 11 this year.

Twenty-five people, including the investigation officer, testified to the prosecution, but the defence produced no witnesses.