A special tribunal today handed death to five war criminals from Netrokona upon conviction in war crimes of 1971.

Three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Md Shahinur Islam, gave the verdict in absentia this morning.

The tribunal ordered home secretary and inspector general of police to arrest the fugitives and execute the verdict.

The five are Abdul Majid, Abdul Khalek Talukder, Kabir Khan, Salam Begh, Nuruddin. They faced seven charges and are now in hiding.

On January 28, the tribunal kept the verdict waiting after both the prosecution and defence completed their closing arguments in the case, she said.

The tribunal framed charges against six persons but one of them, Abdur Rahman, died in custody and thus was exempted.