War crimes: Court to deliver verdict on four Noakhali men Tuesday

The war crimes tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict in a 1971 war crime case against four men from Noakhali district’s Sudharam on Tuesday.

The war crimes suspects face charges of murder, genocide, arson and looting during the Liberation war of Bangladesh.

A three-member International Crimes Tribunal bench led by Justice Shahinur Islam fixed Tuesday as the date of the verdict on Monday, after arguments were completed on Feb 6.

It will be the 31st verdict by the ICT since its formation in 2010.

The accused are Amir Ali, Md Joynal Abedin, Md Abdul Kuddus and Abul Kalam aka AKM Monsur, which is absconding.

Another suspect Md Yusuf Ali has been dropped from the case after his death in prison.

Jahid Imam has represented the prosecution, while Toriqul Islam, Mizanur Rahman, Gazi MH Tamim and Masud Rana represented the defence. 

“The prosecution has submitted arguments against the four suspects over the three charges. According to prosecution, all of the charges have been proved using appropriate evidence. We urged the tribunal to issue the capital punishment,” Zahid Imam told bdnews24.com.

Five suspects were initially accused in the case, but one of them died in jail prior to the filing of the complaint. 

On Jun 20, 2016, the court began the trial against the remaining four of the suspects over murder, looting and arson.

According to the prosecution, the suspects are charged in the killing of 111 in Noakhali’s Sudharam during the Liberation War.

Fifteen people, including the investigative officer Helal Uddin, testified for the prosecution, but the defence produced no witnesses.