Jamaat leader Azharul indicted

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh has indicted Jamaat-e- Islami Assistant Secretary General ATM Azharul Islam for six charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, the International Crimes Tribunal-1, fixed Dec 5 for the  opening statement in the case.

Azhar's indictment hearing began on Aug 29.

Prosecutor AKM Saiful Islam  elaborated on all the six charges brought against the Jamaat leader in light of International Crimes Act 1973.

He prayed for allowing 34 witnesses, including the officer who investigated the case, to testify against Azhar.

Prosecution pressed charges against Azhar on July 18 on counts of murder, genocide, kidnap, torture and rape.

According to the prosecution, charges brought against Azhar include murder of 1,225 people in Rangpur, murder of another four, abduction of 17 people, torture on 13 people by confining them to a place, and arson.

Azhar was a higher secondary student at Rangpur’s Carmichael College in 1971.

He was also the President of Islami Chhatra Shangha, the then student front of Jamaat-e Islami,and  had allegedly led the Al-Badr militia to assist the Pakistani army .

The prosecution accused Azhar of collaborating with the Pakistani forces in planning and launching the attacks, torture and arson.

The investigation against Azhar began on Apr 15, 2012. The Investigation Officer questioned 60 people during the enquiry.

Azhar was arrested at his Moghbazar residence on Aug 22, and has been in jail since then.