Mymensingh’s Riaz Uddin Fakir to die for war crimes

A war crimes tribunal has sentenced Riaz Uddin Fakir to death for his role in genocide in Mymensingh during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 10 May 2018, 06:23 AM
Updated : 10 May 2018, 07:03 AM

He has been convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity in Fulbaria.

A three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal headed by Justice Md Shahinur Islam passed the judgement on Thursday after wrapping up a hearing from prosecutors and the defendant on Mar 21.

It is the 32nd verdict in war crimes cases since the tribunal was formed in 2010.

According to the verdict, four allegations brought against Fakir have been proved. He was sentenced to death on two charges and jailed for life for the other two.

Fakir has been behind bars since the trial began on Dec 11, 2016.

According to the investigation agency, Fakir was a member of Al-Badr, a paramilitary force responsible for mass killings during Bangladesh’s Liberation War against Pakistan in 1971. He was involved with Jamaat-e-Islami that openly opposed the liberation struggle.

Charges submitted to the tribunal in 2016 linked Fakir to five war crimes. The 69-year-old man was in the dock during the verdict.

Initially three persons were accused in the case but later Amjad Ali’s name had been dropped from the list as he fell sick after being arrested and died in jail.

The tribunal removed the name of another suspect Wajuddin after he had died while on the run.

Of the 74 people accused in 32 cases in war crimes so far, five died during trials.

Of them, 69 people were punished, with 42 sentenced to death.