A war crimes tribunal today framed charges against former BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Shakhawat Hossain and eight others over alleged wartime offenses.

Five charges of murder, rape, abduction, torture, confinement and arson were framed against them. The tribunal fixed January 31 to begin their trial.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque passed the order after Shakhawat and two other accused were produced before it this morning.

Among those indicted, Shakhawat, Billal Hossain Biswas and Lutfar Morol are in police custody while six others are on the run.

The absconding are: Ibrahim Hossain of Nehalpur, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman and Kazi Ohidul Islam of Shekhpura, Aziz Sardar of Mominpur, Aziz Sardar of Boga, and Abdul Khaleq Morol of Altapol in Keshabpur upazila.

Shakhawat, who was former lawmaker from Jessore, is now involved in Jatiya Party's politics.

On September 8, the tribunal accepted charges against them and cleared three other suspects.