War crimes accused and Faridpur BNP leader Zahid Hossain alias Khokon Razakar will be tried in absentia as he failed to appear before the International Crimes Tribunal 1 within the stipulated time.
The tribunal wednesday set September 5 for hearing on charge framing against the Nagarkanda municipal mayor of Faridpur, reports UNB.
It also appointed A Shukkur Khan as state defence counsel for the absconding accused.
The prosecution was asked to provide the defence with all the relevant documents and papers in connection with the case.
Responding to a prosecution plea on July 18, the tribunal, after taking cognisance of the charges of crimes against humanity, issued a warrant for his arrest as the accused did not appear before the court.
Later, the prosecution, in compliance with the tribunal order, published legal notice in daily newspapers asking him to surrender before the tribunal within a fortnight to face the trial. But he did not.
Earlier on June 23, the prosecution submitted formal charges against him.
Septuagenarian Zahid, also Nagarkanda upazila BNP vice-president, faces 10 counts of charges including looting, arson, repression, forcible conversion to Islam, shooting to death, rape, killing and mass killing in his home area in collaboration with the Pakistani occupation army during the 1971 Liberation War.