The International Crimes Tribunal 1 will start the trial of four alleged razakars of Kishoreganj in absentia, as the accused did not appear before court even after public announcement.
The tribunal led by its Chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim made the decision yesterday and appointed Abdus Shukur Khan as the defence counsel for the accused who remain at large.
The court fixed July 28 for hearing the charges brought against them.
The fugitives are – Gazi Abdul Mannan, 88, an alleged commander of Karimganj razakar camp; and alleged razakars Nasiruddin Ahmed, 62; Hafiz Uddin, 66; and Azharul Islam, 60.
On May 10, the prosecutors pressed seven charges against five alleged war criminals including the four. The fifth accused – Shamsuddin Ahmed, 60, is now in jail.
The charges include mass killing, murder, confinement, torture, arson and looting committed in Karimganj upazila between August 25 and November 13 in 1971 during the country’s Liberation War.