The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Tuesday concluded their part of hearing on charge framing against nine alleged Razakars from Jessore, including former lawmaker Mawlana Sakhawat Hossain.
The other eight accused are- Billal Hossain, Lutfor Morol, Md Ibrahim Hossain, Sheikh Md Mujibur Rahman, Md Abdul Aziz Sarder, Qazi Ohidul Islam alias Wahidur Salam, Md Aziz Sarder and Abdul Khalek Morol.
Senior prosecutor Zead-al Malum took part in the hearing and pleaded to frame the five charges of crimes against humanity against the accused. The crimes included murder, rape, abduction, looting, torture and arson.
Earlier the counsels for Sakhawat and Lutfor had submitted discharge petitions for their clients. Today the prosecutor opposed the petitions vehemently and pleaded to frame charges against them.
On the other hand, Abdus Sattar Palowan, counsel for Billal Hossain, sought time for filing discharge petition and preparation to take part in indictment hearing.
Accepting the plea of the defence counsel, Justice Anwarul Haque, chairman of the three-member panel of the ICT-1, adjourned the hearing till November 22.
Of the nine accused, only Sakhawat, Lutfor and Billal are in police custody now and were present at the courtroom.
The tribunal on September 8 took the five charges of crimes against humanity that the prosecution brought against the accused into cognizance.
The ICT-1 also acquitted three from the initial list of 12 accused on that day.
According to the prosecution, Sakhawat, then a central leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha, acted as Razakar leader in Jessore and was aided by the others during the War of Liberation.
