CT Online Desk

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today convicted and sentenced seven Razakars from Bagerhat to death for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.

The seven convicts are- Khan Akram Hossain, Sheikh Md Ukiluddin, Md Mokbul Mollah, Khan Ashraf Ali, Rustam Ali Mollah, Sheikh Idris, and Sheikh Rafiqul Islam alias Babul. Of the seven, the last four are yet to be arrested and were tried in absentia.

"The seven accused... are found unanimously guilty of the offences of 'abduction', 'torture' and 'murder', as 'crimes against humanity' enumerated in section 3(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 as arraigned in charge no- four and five. Accordingly, be unanimously convicted and condemned to sentence of death," said the judgment pronounced by the three-judge panel of the ICT-1.

The three judges, chairman Justice Md Shahinur Islam, members Justice Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar and Justice KM Hafizul Alam read out the summary of the 293-page judgment one by one. Justice Md Shahinur Islam read out the sentencing portion.

The tribunal came up with the judgment as it found the seven guilty in all the seven charges framed against them and ordered them to be hanged by the neck till their death.

The tribunal sent three convicts Khan Akram Hossain, Sheikh Md Ukiluddin and Md Mokbul Mollah to prison together with the conviction warrant and a copy of the judgment.

The tribunal on August 1, 2018 framed seven charges of crimes against humanity against total 12 accused in the case. Out of the 12, four accused Idris Ali Mollah, Md Hashem Ali Sheikh, Sultan Ali Khan and Md Maniruzzaman Howlader died during trial and another accused Md Ajahar Ali Sikder died on October 17, 2023, after closure of summing up phase.

Their names were dropped from the judgment.