Six to die for 1971 war crimes in Khulna

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 handed down the death sentence to six people on Thursday for committing crimes against humanity in Khulna during the Liberation War in 1971.

Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1, pronounced the verdict.

The death row convicts are-Amjad Hossain Howlader, Md Shahar Ali Sardar, Md Atiar Rahman Sheikh, Md Motasin Billah, Md Kamal Uddin Goldar and Md Nazrul Islam. Of the six, Nazrul is yet to be arrested and was tried in absentia.

Public prosecutors Haidar Ali and Mokhlesur Rahman Badal represented the state, while advocates Abdus Sattar Paloan and Hazi MH Tamim appeared for the six.

Prosecutor Mokhlesur said, “We are satisfied with the judgment.”

However, advocate Abdus said, “We did not get justice and we’ll file an appeal petition against the judgment.”

On July 26, the tribunal fixed July 27 as the judgment day in the case.

Allegations against the convicts

First allegation: Amzad and four to five collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces launched ab attack on the house of Shanti Lata Mandal in Masalia village of Batiaghata upazila and shot Binod Mandal dead after torturing him on August 10, 1971.

Second allegation: The convicts unleashed torture on Haridas Majumdar of Purbahalia village in Batiaghata upazila and killed him on October 15, 1971.

Third allegation: The convicts killed four people of the Hindu community in Sukhdara village of the same upazila and looted valuables and torched the houses on October 21, 1971.

Fourth allegation: The convicts killed two freedom fighters -- Jotish Mandal and Abdul Aziz of Baroaria village in Batiaghata upazila -- on November 29, 1971.

All the charges against the convicts including looting, killings, arson, kidnapping and torture, have been proved before the tribunal.