6 Jamalpur war crimes suspects to be tried in absentia

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 today decided to try six accused from Jamalpur in absentia for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan took the decision as the alleged Al-Badr men did not appear before the court after publication of newspaper advertisements to that end.

The law enforcers had earlier failed to arrest them as well.

The fugitives are: Ashraf Hossain, 64, Prof Sharif Ahammed, 71, Abdul Mannan, 66, Abdul Bari, 62, Md Harun, 58, and Abul Hashem, 65.

The tribunal also appointed two lawyers -- Abdus Sobhan Tarafder and Kutubuddin Ahmed -- for defending the accused in the case and fixed September 15 for hearing on the charges.

Earlier on April 20, the prosecution pressed five charges against the six for their alleged involvement in war-time crimes.

The tribunal on July 22 ordered its registrar's office to take necessary steps in publishing advertisements in national dailies asking the six fugitives to appear before it within seven days from the publishing date.

The charges, which include murder, abduction and torture, were brought for their alleged involvement in nine incidents committed in Jamalpur between April 22 and December 11, 1971.