Abdul Aziz alias Habul from Pakhiala village at Barlekha in Moulvibazar and two other people have been awarded death for crimes committed against humanity during the Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, pronounced the verdict yesterday, Thursday
The two other convicts in the case- are Mohammad Abdul Matin and Abdul Mannan alias Manai. Abdul Aziz and Abdul Matin are siblings. Abdul Aziz is still absconding while the other two are in jail.
The ICT sentenced all the three accused to death as the five charges brought against the accused in the case were proved. The charges are murder, rape, looting, arson, torture, and kidnapping.
The summary of the 240-page verdict was read during the pronouncement of the verdict. Defendant’s lawyer Abdus Sattar Paloyan and M Saewar Hossain were present in the court when the verdict was announced. On the other hand, prosecutors Sabina Yasmin Khan Munni and Muklesur Rahman Badal represented the state.
Abdul Aziz was involved with the politics of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) while Abdul Matin was involved with the politics of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Abdul Mannan was a leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, in 1971.
The cross examination in the case was completed on 12 April. Later, the tribunal fixed May 19 for pronouncing the verdict.
The investigation against the three people for alleged crimes committed against humanity began on October 16 in 2014. Later on February 29 in 2016, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against them. On March 1 that year, Barlekha police station arrested Abdul Aziz and Abdul Mannan and produced them before the tribunal on the next day. Later, they were sent to jail.
