3 war criminals jailed unto death, one acquitted for first time

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has jailed three people unto death for their crimes against humanity during the liberation war of 1971, meanwhile one accused was acquitted for the first time by the tribunal.

At the same time, five other war criminals have been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

This is the first time, among 114 accused in 42 cases, one has been acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal.

The three-member ICT bench headed by Justice Shahinur Islam handed down the verdict on Thursday.

The other member judges were Amir Hossain and Abu Ahmed Jamadar.

Defendant's lawyer Abdus Sattar Paloyan said the court had framed charges against 11 accused in the case on 4 March, 2018.

The accused were charged with murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, detention, torture and extortion.

On 20 February, 2017, the investigation agency for the International Crimes Tribunal released the final report of the investigation against them.

The accused have been charged with four counts of crimes against humanity during the liberation war, which includes murder, robbery, arson, kidnapping, detention, torture and extortion.

It is alleged that they committed these crimes in Sadhua village of Niguari union and Rouha village of Tangab union in Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh during the great liberation war of 1971.