Verdict on six men any day

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict any day in a case filed against six Gaibandha men, including a former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker, allegedly for committing crimes during Liberation War in 1971.

The accused are Jamaat's ex-MP Abu Saleh Md Abdul Aziz Mia, Ruhul Amin alias Manju, Abu Muslim Md Ali, Abdul Latif, Najmul Huda and Abdur Rahim Mia. Abdul Latif is now in jail while others are absconding.

The accused are facing three charges -- looting and killing of a Hindu man at Moujamali village in Gaibandha Sadar upazila, killing of a Chhatra League leader, and killing of 13 chairmen and members of five unions in Sundarganj.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam yesterday kept the verdict waiting after it completed rehearing the closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence counsels.

Wrapping up their arguments Prosecutor Syed Hider Ali prayed for capital punishment saying that they have been able to prove all three charges brought against the accused while defence counsel Gazi MH Tamim sought acquittal of the accused.

The tribunal kept the delivery of the verdict in waiting after closing the arguments in the case on May 9, but it reached an impasse following the death of its the then chairman Justice Anwarul Haque on July 13.

The tribunal on October 12 decided to hear the closing arguments again as the tribunal was reconstituted with a new chairman and two members.

Meanwhile, tribunal registrar Md Salim Miah at a press briefing at his office said 33 cases are now pending with the tribunal while eight cases are at trial stage.