DHAKA: International Crimes Tribunal-1 fixed July 26 for submission of formal charge against 12 war crimes suspects, including Jessore-6 constituency’s former MP Sakhawat Hossain on charge of crimes against humanity during liberation war.
Three-member tribunal led-by its chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim fixed the date on Sunday.
In the time petition, Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman said they have received final investigation report in the case. But, prosecution needs more time to prepare formal charge to submit before tribunal.
Earlier on June 16, the investigation agency of ICT has submitted investigation report on crimes against humanity against the 12 war crimes suspects.
In the probe report, five charges were brought against 12 alleged razakars for their ‘crimes against humanity’ committed during the War of Independence in 1971, they added.
All 12 war crimes suspects who hail from Keshabpur Upazila of Jessore district. Of them, Sakhawat Hossain, Billal Hossain, Akram Hossain, and Oziar Moral are behind bar now.
The rest of accused -- M Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh M Majibur Rahman, M Abdul Azim Sardar, M Aziz Sarder, Kazi Oahidul Islam, M Lutfar Moral, M Abdul Khaleq Moral, and Mushiar Rahman – are on the run.
In the probe report, five charges, including murder, carrying out massacre, kidnap, detention, and attack, looting, and torching houses committed during wartime in different area of Keshabpur Upazila, were brought against the accused.
Sakhawat was the commander of notorious Al-Badr force in Keshabpur Upazila and others were the member of that force.
People of the minority communities were forced to leave country due to their torture and oppression, according to the report.
Earlier, the ICT-1 separately issued arrest warrants against Sakhawat Hossain on November 2014 and against 11 other alleged Razakars on May 12 this year on charges of committing crimes against humanity during wartime.
Law enforcing agency arrested Sakhawat from capital’s Uttar Khan area on November 29, 2014 and three of 11 others were arrested on May 12.
However, Sakhawat became a lawmaker from BNP’s major ally Jamaat-e-Islami in 1991. Later, he joined BNP but failed to secure the party nomination in 2001 elections, and vied the poll as an independent candidate and defeated.
After 2001 poll, BNP expelled him from the party for violating party discipline, and later joined Jatiya Party.
BDST: 1420 HRS, JUN 21, 2015
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