Prosecution seeks death penalty

Prosecution yesterday prayed to the International Crimes Tribunal-1 for giving capital punishment to two Kishoreganj men for allegedly committing crimes during the 1971 Liberation War.

Prosecutor Tureen Afroz made the prayer after completing her closing arguments in the case against Syed Mohammad Hussain alias Hossain, younger brother of convicted war criminal Syed Hasan Ali; and Muhammad Moslem Pradhan.

Moslem is in jail and pleaded not guilty while Hussain absconding. “We are praying for their capital punishment because the offences are grievous,” Tureen said.

The prosecutor placed her arguments citing the testimonies of prosecution witnesses and documentary evidence to prove all six charges brought against them.

After taking brief arguments from defence counsel Abdus Sattar Palwan, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque adjourned the case proceeding until today when he will place further submission.

The charges are forcing Hindus in Dampara village of Nikli in Kishoreganj to convert to Islam; abduction, confinement and torture on four people at Nikli Bazar; killing of 26 people in Gurui; killing of 35 Hindus and torturing four others in Dampara; and abduction and murder of freedom fighter Abdul Malek of Purbogram; and the killing of freedom fighters Khairul Jahan Bir Pratik and Md Selim Bir Pratik in Hossainpur.