By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
The prosecution in a war crimes tribunal in Dhaka yesterday pressed five counts of charges against former Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami member of parliament Sakhawat Hossain and 11 others for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
The prosecution submitted the charges to the International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim.
The tribunal fixed September 8 to decide whether it will accept the charges against Sakhawat and others.
On November 29, 2014, police arrested former lawmaker Shaukhat from Dhaka’s Uttarkhan area for his alleged involvement in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
There are a number of war crimes allegations against Sakhawat, including that of
murder and mass killing.
A war crimes investigation agency started investigation into his crimes in April 2012.
According to the agency, Sakhawat was a central committee member of the then Islami Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir) in 1971.
He was the in-charge of Hisladanga Razakar camp in
Keshabpur.
Sakhawat was elected MP on Jamaat ticket from Keshabpur constituency in 1991 while on BNP ticket in the February 15 election in 1996. Jatiya Party picked him for the January-5 election this year. However, his candidature was cancelled over the war crimes charges.
The prosecution also filed formal charges against 11 alleged collaborators of Pakistani army called ‘razakars’ from Jessore.
Prosecutor Zead-al Malum brought five specific charges of crimes against humanity against the accused.
The investigation agency while probing the case against Sakhawat, found ample evidence against the rest and that’s why the prosecution has brought the charges against the 12 as a group.