DHAKA, April 24, 2019 (BSS) – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today sentenced two Razakars from Netrokona to death for their crimes against humanity committed in 1971.
The two convicts are – Hedayet Ullah Anju and Sohrab Fakir.
Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of three-judge panel of the ICT-1, passed the order this morning as the tribunal found the duo guilty beyond doubt in all the six charges framed against them.
“…they
be convicted
and condemned to the ‘sentence of death and accordingly they be hanged by the neck till they are dead, under section20(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the judgement said.
Terming the convicts as mighty associates of then Pakistani occupation force, the court said justice would be met if the convicted accused persons who have been found guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crimes proved are condemned and sentenced accordingly.
“The nation can never forget the lugubrious scar it experienced in 1971. Global community is now expected to stand up and recognize the ‘genocide’ happened in Bangladesh in 1971 and also to raise voice by saying -‘Never Again'” ,it added.
Of the two, Anju is yet to be arrested, while Fakir is in jail and was present at the courtroom during the pronouncement of the judgement.
The tribunal started its proceedings at 10.40am and the three judges read out the summary of the 218-page judgement part by part. Justice Md. Abu Ahmed Jamadar read out the first portion, followed by Justice Amir Hossain.
Tribunal chairman Justice Md. Shahinur Islam read out the verdict on sentence.
After pronouncing the judgement, the tribunal asked secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Inspector General of Police to initiate effective and appropriate measure for ensuring arrest of the convict Hidaetulla Anju.
The first tribunal on March 7 had said it would pass judgement in the case any day, as both the prosecution and the defence sides concluded their arguments in the case on that day.
On January 10, 2017, the tribunal took into cognizance the formal charge submitted by the prosecution.
At that time, there were three accused in the case, Hedayet Ullah Anju, his brother Enayet Ullah Monju and Sohrab Fakir.
Of the three, Enayet Ullah Monju and Sohrab Fakir were arrested.
However, on January 25, 2017, Monju died of old age complications at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).
On December 13, 2017, the ICT-1 framed six specific charges of crimes including genocide, deportation, killing and torture against them.
According to the prosecution, the three accused were members of Peace Committee and later formed Razakar Bahini in their locality.
During the War of Liberation, they committed horrendous crimes against humanity in villages of Modhuakhali, Mobarakpur, Sukhari and Madan, among other areas.