Verdict on 2 Kishoreganj 'war criminals' tomorrow

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has fixed tomorrow to deliver judgment in a case filed against two Kishoreganj men for allegedly committing crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.

The special tribunal set the date today as it earlier concluded hearing arguments in the case. 

The accused -- Syed Mohammad Hussain alias Hossain, 64, younger brother of convicted war criminal Syed Hasan Ali, and Muhammad Moslem Pradhan, 66, -- are facing six charges.

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Of them, Moslem is in jail and pleaded not guilty while Hussain is absconding.

The tribunal kept the verdict waiting on March 7 after prosecution and defence counsels completed their closing arguments.

Wrapping up their arguments and rebuttal of defence arguments, prosecution prayed for capital punishment for the accused saying that the prosecution has been able to prove all the six charges.

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The defence counsel, however, said the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses are “not credible” and the prosecution has utterly failed to prove the charges. He prayed for acquittal of his clients.

Moslem of Kamarhati village in Nikli upazila was arrested on July 7, 2015, after the tribunal issued arrest warrant for the duo. On the other hand, Hussain left for Malaysia on May 21, 2014 whereas the investigations began on November 13 that year, according to the tribunal's investigation agency.

Hussain was originally from Machihata village (Pir Bari) in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila but had been living with his family in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila since 1936 as his father worked there, according to the investigators.

His father, Syed Musleh Uddin, was vice president of the then East Pakistan unit of Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) and chairman of the Peace Committee in Kishoreganj sub-division in 1971, investigators said. Both PDP and Peace Committee worked against Bangladesh's liberation.

Hussain was the commander of the Razakar Bahini in Nikli upazila and known as “Razakarer Daroga”, while his brother Syed Hassan commanded the Razakars in Tarail upazila in 1971. Moslem was a Razakar member and Hussain's associate, according to the prosecution.

The tribunal on May 9 last year framed charges against the duo and the prosecution produced 23 witnesses to prove the charges while the defence produced one witness.