The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has sentenced three people, including two brothers of Baralekha in Moulvibazar, to death for crimes against humanity such as murder, rape, torture, abduction, detention, looting and arson during the 1971 war of liberation. The convicts are Abdul Mannan alias Manai, Abdul Aziz alias Habul and his brother Abdul Matin.

Thursday (May 19) Justice. A three-judge panel headed by Shahinur Islam handed down the verdict at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The other two members of the tribunal are judges – Md. Abu Ahmed Jamadar and KM Hafizul Alam.

The verdict was announced before Manai and Habul. Abdul Matin is a fugitive. Authorities have been instructed to arrest him and execute the verdict.

The tribunal’s five charges against those accused of crimes against humanity have been substantiated. The accused have been sentenced to death for one, two and five of the five charges and 15 years imprisonment for the three and four charges.

Prosecutor Sabina Yasmin Khan Munni handled the case on behalf of the state. Lawyer M Sarwar Hossain appeared for Manai. Abdus Sattar Paloyan appeared for Habul. Abdus Sattar Paloyan also appeared for Habul’s brother, fugitive Abdul Matin, as a state-appointed lawyer.

In an immediate response to the verdict, Prosecutor Munni told reporters that the prosecution had been able to prove “all the allegations against the accused”. That is why the tribunal has given death sentence to all the three accused. We are satisfied with the verdict. He thanked the investigating officer, the prosecution team, the tribunal and the witnesses for the maximum punishment meted out to the accused in the verdict.

However, M Sarwar Hossain, counsel for the accused, said, “The death penalty has become the norm for tribunals. My client did not get justice in this verdict, we are upset. My client will appeal against the verdict. I hope he will get justice in the verdict of the appeal. ‘

Habul’s lawyer Abdus Sattar Paloyan made the same comment. However, regarding the fugitive Abdul Matin, he said, “If he surrenders out of respect for the court of law and appeals against the verdict, he will get justice.” ‘

According to the report of the investigation agency of the tribunal, Aziz and Matin took training in the war of liberation in India with the leaders and activists of Chhatra League during the war of liberation in 1971. After the training, they fled to Baralekha and surrendered to the invading forces and joined the razakar forces. Then Mannan also joined them.

Abdul Aziz was involved in BNP politics before his arrest on March 1, 2016. And the fugitive Matin used to do politics of Jamaat-e-Islami. Accused Mannan alias Monai was involved in politics of the then student organization of Jamaat-e-Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1971, the investigation agency claimed. During the war of liberation, Mannan became a member of the Baralekha Thana Peace Committee and joined the Razakar forces. He was arrested on March 1, 2016 by members of the law enforcement agencies.

The investigating agency of the tribunal started its investigation against Manai, Habul and Matin on October 16, 2014, which ended on November 14, 2016, two years later. On March 1 of that year, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against the three accused. On the same day, the police of Moulvibazar’s Baralekha police station arrested Abdul Mannan alias Manai and Abdul Aziz alias Habul. On March 2, the day after their arrest, they were produced before the International Criminal Tribunal and sent to prison. Abdul Matin was no longer caught.

On May 3, 2016, the prosecution filed a formal complaint against the accused in the tribunal. Although the tribunal took cognizance of it on the same day, a year later, on 15 May 2016, it framed charges against the accused and ordered the commencement of the trial. Later, on August 12 of that year, evidence was taken in the case. A total of 16 people, including the investigating officer, testified in the case. The tribunal awaited the verdict on April 12 after the trial.