Jamaat leader Yusuf indicted

The second war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh has indicted Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf on 13 war crimes charges, including killing, genocide and arson.

Justice Obaidul Hassan-led International Crimes Tribunal-2 gave an order indicting him of the charges on Thursday.

The court fixed Sept 5 for beginning deposition by witnesses in the case.

The first war crimes tribunal ordered Yusuf’s detention on May 12 and sent him to jail.

The prosecution submitted charges at the ICT registrar’s office on May 5.

Yusuf's case was shifted to the ICT-2 on Jul 1 after the prosecution applied to the tribunal registrar pleading for the transfer on Jun 23.

On Apr 22, a probe panel of the prosecution filed the report accusing Yusuf of involvement in crimes against humanity during the War of Independence.

Probe coordinator Hannan Khan had said they found evidence that the Razakars under Yusuf's command were involved in killing almost 700 people.

The vigilante militia group Razakar — which has become synonymous with ‘collaborator’ in Bengali — supported the war effort of the Pakistani military junta during the 1971 Liberation War and committed widespread crimes against humanity.

There were also evidence against Yusuf of looting and setting fire to 300 houses, 400 shops and of forcibly converting 200 Hindus, Khan had said.