The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday sentenced five war criminals from Trishal in Mymensingh to life term imprisonment for committing crimes against humanity during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
A three-member panel of the ICT-1 headed by Justice Md Shahinur Islam delivered the verdict. The two other members of the judges' panel are- Justice Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.
Of the five convicts, Md Harmuj Ali, 73, Md Abdus Sattar, 61, and Khandaker Golam Rabbani, 63, heard the verdict from the dock.
Two other convicts, Khandaker Golam Sabbir Ahmad, 69, and Md Fakhruzzaman, 61, are still in hiding and faced the trial in absentia.
The tribunal dropped charges against three other accused in the case as they died during the trial process. They are former Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Abdul Hannan, his son Rafique Sazzad and Mizanur Rahman Mintu.
During the Liberation War, the accused persons were members of infamous Al-Badr and Razakar force, said prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chamon.
On May 27, 2019, the tribunal indicted the eight people on six counts of crimes against humanity for committing murders, arson attacks, looting and torture in confinement at different places in Trishal during the war of independence.
Their trial ended in November 23, 2022.
The prosecution produced a total of 13 witnesses to prove the charges while the defence produced none to defend the accused ones.
