DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has started reading out its verdict in war crimes cases against five Gaibandha razakars. 

The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md. Shahinur Islam is reading out the verdict in a packed courtroom on Tuesday (Oct 15).

Earlier on Monday (Oct 14), the special tribunal set Tuesday for delivering its judgement in the case filed for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 in Gaibandha.  

Previously, the ICT on July 21 has kept the verdict against five alleged war criminals in Gaibandha for crimes against humanity in 1971 pending for any day after concluding the hearing of arguments from both sides.

After hearing the law-point arguments from both the prosecution and the defence lawyers, the three-member ICT, led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, passed the order in presence of the only one accused Ranju Miah.

There were six accused in the case. Among them, Md Ranju Miah is in the jail.

The absconding accused are - Razakar commander Abdul Jabbar, Md. Jafijar Rahman Khoka, Md. Abdul Wahed Mondol, Md. Momtaz Ali Bepari Momtaz and Md. Azgar Hossain Khan.

Among them, Azgar Hossain Khan has died.

The ICT, earlier, has started trial of the case after indicted the accused, framing four charges of crimes against humanity against them.

The five accused are facing four charges, including those for mass killing, abduction, looting, forced deportation of minorities and arson attack committed in Fulbari and Nandida village in Gaibandha Sadar, during the 1971 Liberation War.

BDST: 1112 HRS, OCT 15, 2019
RS