War crimes: Bail denied for JP lawmaker, his son

A war crimes tribunal today denied bail to Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Hannan and his son Rafique Sajjad in a case of crimes against humanity committed during 1971.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by Justice Anwarul Haque also directed the jail authority to provide them necessary health treatment.

Hannan, a lawmaker of Mymensingh-7 constituency, and his son were arrested on October 1 last year hours after the war crimes tribunal issued an arrest warrant for them.

On January 25, Hannan and his son Rafique Sajjad sought bail in a case accusing them and six other Mymensingh men of committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

The duo's counsel Mizanul Islam reasoned before International Crimes Tribunal-1 that Hannan was aged and, as a sitting lawmaker, wanted to take part in an ongoing parliament session while the duo were not mentioned in the primary charges.

Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon opposed the petition and the three-member tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque fixed February 4 (today) to pass an order.

Hannan, the alleged general secretary of Mymensingh district Peace Committee; his son Rafique Sajjad, Khandakar Golam Sabbir Ahmed, Mizanur Rahman Mintu and Hormuj Ali are now in jail. Mohammad Abdus Sattar, Mohammad Fakruzzaman and Khandakar Golam Rabbani are on the run.