The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday sentenced five people to life imprisonment for their crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam pronounced the judgement.
The convicts are Khandakar Golam Sabbir Ahmed, Harmuj Ali, Fakhruzzaman, Khandaker Golam Rabbani, and Abdus Sattar. Among them, Fakhruzzaman and Rabbani were tried in absentia.
Lawyers Sultan Mahmud Simon, Rezia Sultana Chaman and Barrister Taposh Kanti Bol represented the state while Advocate Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar, Mizanul Islam and Haji MH Tamim stood for the accused.
On May 19, 2015, Rahima Khatun, wife of martyred freedom fighter Abdur Rahman, filed a case against former Jatiya Party MP MA Hannan, Jamaat leaders Fakhruzzaman and Golam Rabbani, for their involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Investigating officer of the case Motiur Rahman conducted the investigation from July 28, 2015 to July 11, 2016.
Police found the involvement of five more people in the case and included them in the charge sheet.
On October 1, 2016, the tribunal issued warrants for the arrest of the accused.
MA Hannan, his son Rafique and three more accused were arrested from Trishal upazila in Mymensingh district. Mintu died during the trial proceedings while two other accused — Fakhruzzaman and Rabbani — went into hiding.
Various allegations, including mass killing, rape, confinement, abduction, torture, and arson attack on houses, were brought against them which were proved in the tribunal. They committed the crime in Trishal during the Liberation War.
The tribunal took the cases against eight people into cognizance on December 11, 2016.
