Hindustan Surkhiyan Desk: The International Crimes Tribunal-1 today found two persons including a former leader of Habiganj Awami League guilty of committing genocide and crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971 and sentenced them to death.
The convicts — Liakat Ali, 63, former president of Lakhai upazila unit Awami League of Habiganj, and Aminul Islam alias Rajab Ali, 62, of Astogram upazila in Kishoreganj – are now on the run.
The International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, pronounced the verdict.
The tribunal on November 1, 2016 framed seven charges against the two, after prosecution on May 3 that year pressed the charges against them.
The tribunal kept the verdict waiting for delivery on August 16, after both prosecution and defence completed their closing arguments in the case.
Wrapping up their arguments, prosecution had prayed for capital punishment for the accused, saying that they have been able to prove all charges. However, state-appointed defence counsel had sought acquittal of the accused.
Prosecution produced 17 witnesses during trial while the defence declined to produce any.
WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM?
The charges against the duo are: acts of genocide killing 43 Hindu men in Lakhai’s Krishnapur; killing nine Hindu men in Chandipur and 26 Hindu men in Gadainagar; act of genocide in Krishnapur, Chandipur and Gadainagar leaving eight Hindu men dead; killing of one Rangu Mia in Nasirnagar; killing of five men in Sabiyanagar in Astogram; and killing of 10 other men in the same village.
