Probe body finalizes charges against 12 war criminals
Dhaka: The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has finalised 5 charges against 12 alleged war criminals of Jessore.
The ICT probe body said this at a press briefing held at its Dhanmandi safe house on Sunday morning.
‘We started our probe on 13 November 2013 and concluded it yesterday,’ said investigation officer Abdur Razzak Khan.
The 12 accused are former Jamaat and BNP lawmakers Mawlana Sakhawat Hossain, Ibrahim Hossain, Md Billal Hossain, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman, Md A Aziz Sarder, Qazi Ohidur Islam alias Qazi Wahidur Salam, Md Aziz Sarder, Lutfor Morol, Abdul Khalek Morol, Md Akram Hossain, Ojihar Morol and Moshiar Rahman.
Of them Sakhawat, Billal, Akram and Ojihar are in police custody and the first one has already been interrogated by the ICT probe body on 22 January.
Sakhawat was arrested on 29 November 2014 and the other three were arrested on 12 May 2015.
The first tribunal on 12 May issued arrest warrant against theses 11 accused of Sakhawat, accepting a plea of the prosecution.
According to the prosecution, involvement of these eleven in the crimes against humanity was found during the investigation into the alleged crimes committed by Sakhawat, who is now in jail.
Sakhawat, then a central leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha, acted as Razakar leader in Jessore and was aided by the other 11 during the War of Impendences, the prosecution said.
Earlier on 17 May, the ICT 1 had asked the investigation agency to conclude their probe against these 12, by 21 June.