Shawdesh Desk:

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today set July 28 for pronouncing judgment in a case of crimes against humanity against six alleged Razakars from Batiaghata in Khulna.

Justice Md Shahinur Islam, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1, passed the order this morning, tribunal registrar office sources told journalists.

The six accused in the case 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.

The first tribunal on May 22 kept the judgment on CAV (curia advisory vault, a Latin legal term, meaning- the court awaits judgment), as both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments in the case on that day.

“There were seven accused in the case initially. Of the seven, accused Md Mojahar Ali Sheikh died after the indictment,” prosecutor Sabina Yesmin Khan told journalists.

The investigation agency of the tribunal launched their investigation in the case in 2015, while the tribunal issued arrest warrant against them on March 8, 2017. The investigation agency of the tribunal on August 8, 2017, filed their report with the prosecution office.

The ICT-1 on January 22, 2019, framed four charges of crimes against humanity against the accused.

A total of 17 witnesses including the investigation officer (IO) testified in the case and were cross-examined by the defence afterwards.