ICT to start Subhan’s trial

The International Crimes Tribunal will begin trial of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan in eight out of nine charges he faces in connection with alleged war crimes committed during the 1971 War of Independence.

The ICT-1 led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir framed charges against the Jamaat leader on Tuesday.

It set Jan 28 to begin hearing the testimonies.

The process will begin with the introductory remarks of the tribunal prosecution.

The nine charges against Subhan include murder, genocide, abduction, torturing, looting, arson and conspiracy.

During framing of charges, Subhan’s counsel Barrister Abdur Razzaq said his client had been charged with crimes against humanity with a political motive.

He said the prosecution had failed to prove when and how the crimes Subhan had allegedly committed.

The chargesheet against Subhan was submitted on Sept 15.

On Oct 19, ICT-1 took cognisance and ordered a hearing on the charges.

Born in 1936, at Toilokundi village of Pabna's Sujanagar Upazila, Subhan was the chief of Pabna unit of Jamaat-e-Islami and a member of the party's highest policymaking body during the post-liberation war era.

During the Liberation War in 1971, he was the General Secretary and subsequently the Vice-President of 'Peace Committee' in Pabna.

File Photo

Subhan allegedly played a key role in setting up units of the Peace Committee and forces like Razakar, Al Badr, Al Shams and Mujahid that were used to suppress the Bengali liberation struggle.

The Jamaat leader was arrested from Tangail, east of Bangabandhu bridge, on Sept 20 last year.

Arrested in a case of looting that night, he was sent to a Pabna jail.

Later, he was transferred to Dhaka following a tribunal directive.

The tribunal quashed his bail petition and sent him to jail on Oct 2, 2012.