War Crimes: Verdict in 4 Moulvibazar men's case any day

The verdict in the case filed against four Moulvibazar men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971 will be delivered any day as the International Crimes Tribunal-1 has completed trial proceedings yesterday.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam placed the verdict in waiting after completion of closing arguments by the prosecution and the defence, said Prosecutor Sheikh Moshfeq Kabir.

The accused -- Akmal Ali Talukder, 76; Abdun Nur Talukder alias Lal Miah, 62; Anis Miah, 76; and Abdul Musabbir Miah, 64; all from Rajnagar upazila of Moulvibazar -- face two charges of genocide and crimes against humanity. Akmal is now in jail while the other three are on the run.

Prosecutor Syed Haider Ali sought capital punishment for all the accused while defence counsels -- Abdus Sobhan Tarafder and Abul Hasan -- sought acquittal of their clients.

The tribunal framed two charges against them on May 7 last year after the prosecution pressed charges on May 31 in 2016.

Prosecution produced 13 witnesses including the investigation officer of the case Hari Debnath, but the defence declined to produce any witness.