Five war crimes suspects to be sentenced tomorrow

Gaibandar Sardar Upazila in war crimes case. The verdict against Ranju Mia and five others will be announced tomorrow, Tuesday. The three-member ICC bench headed by Justice Shahinul Islam will announce the verdict.

Today, Monday, the date for the verdict has been set on the court’s calendar. Previously, the tribunal reserved the case for decision (CAV) on July 21.

There are 6 accused in this case. Among them, MD. Ranju Mia (59) was arrested. 4 others are absconding. They are Abdul Jabbar Mondal, his son Jachizar Rahman alias Khoka (64), Montaj Ali Bepari (68) and Abdul Waheed Mondal (62). Another accused Azgar Hossain Khan (66) died.

After the ICC investigation body completed its investigation into the six individuals, it released its report on December 21, 2016. The defendants were charged with four counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and arson.

Meanwhile, on December 23, one of the accused, Azgar Hussain Khan, died and the prosecution filed a formal complaint against five people.

The investigation report revealed that all the accused were active workers of Jamaat-e-Islami.

A total of four charges were levied against the accused. The first charge is that in early June 1971, a group of 8 to 10 Razakars led by Razakar Azgar Hussain Khan and 15 to 20 Pakistani occupation troops attacked Binchipur village in Sahapala Union of Gaibandha district. They tortured Ambika Charan Sarkar, Dwijen Chandra Sarkar and Abdul Majid Pradhan. The accused arrested Phul Kumari Rani and her spouse Sadhana Rani Sarkar (now deceased) and tortured them. When they took the oath of becoming Muslims, they broke the vermilion on their foreheads and the branches on their hands.

The second charge is that they shot dead nine persons including Abu Bakar, Tara Akande, Anshar Ali and Naseem Uddin Akande and looted contents from 40 to 50 houses and set them on fire at Nandina village of Sahapala Union under Sadar Thana in Gaibandha district.

The third charge – five persons including Lal Mia Beppari, Abdul Baki and Harilal Rehman were shot dead in an armed attack in Daulatpur village of Saharpara Union in Sadar police station of Gaibandar district. The fourth charge has been filed that a total of seven persons including unarmed freedom fighters Omar Farooq, Islam Uddin and Nabir Hossain were shot dead in Nandina, Mirpur, Saharbazar, Kashdah, Bisik Shilpa Nagari, Bhavanipur and Chakgaeshpur villages of Saharpara Union of Gaibandar.