3 Noakhali men to die for crimes in 1971

Staff Correspondent: Three Noakhali men including Amir Ahmed alias Amir Ali has been awarded with death penalty for their alleged involvement in crimes committed in 1971.

Another one has been jailed for 20 years.

A three-member bench headed by chairman of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Justice Md Shahinur Islam announced the verdict on Tuesday.

The death penalty convicts are Amir Ahmed alias Amir Ali, Joynal Abedin and  Abul Kalam alias AKM Mansur. Of them, Abul Kalam is on the run.  Abdul Kuddus has been jailed for 20 years.

Earlier, the tribunal fixed the date on Monday.

The tribunal kept the verdict waiting for delivery after the prosecution and the defence counsels completed placing their arguments on February 6.

On June 20, 2016, the tribunal framed three charges including genocide against the accused.

The prosecution on October 5, 2015, pressed charges against five men from Noakhali, including the four. But Mohammad Yusuf later died of old age complications and was not indicted.

According to the first charge, the four were involved in the killing of at least 100 people of Sreepur and Sonapur villages on June 15.

risingbd/Dhaka/March 13, 2018/Mahidi/Mukul