The International Crimes tribunal (ICT) sentenced death penalty to fugitive Abul Kalam Azad on 21 January 2013 as its first historical verdict for crimes against humanity during Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971.
In its verdict, the tribunal issued a judgment copy to Inspector General of police (IGP) for taking necessary action and later to submit a report to the tribunal about their steps taken to arrest the fugitive.
On February 24, 2015, the tribunal directed to the secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the IGP to ensure the apprehension of another fugitive convict Md Abdul Jabbar Engineer with the help of the Interpol, if necessary.
According to the investigation agency and prosecution, a total of 139 persons are fugitive in the cases filed with the ICT for crimes against humanity. Off them 44 persons have been convicted (32 persons with death sentence, 12 persons with imprisonment till death), 84 persons are still under trial and arrest warrants were issued against 11 during the investigations.
In the case of Ashrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, the tribunal said in its verdict that the accused left the country almost instantly after the victory on December 16, 1971 and since then they had been in London and New York. None of them could be apprehended, despite existence of information as to their blameworthiness, during the last four decades.
In many of the ICT cases, the tribunal asked the authorities concerned to take necessary action to arrest the accused and convicted persons, and if necessary, asked them to take help from international police organization (Interpol).
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The ICT has directed the secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs and IGP, and ordered to seek help from Interpol to arrest accused Syed Md. Hussain alias Hossain, Idris Ali Sardar, Md. Ibrahim Hossain alias Ghungur Ibrahim, Sheikh Mohammad Mujibur Rahman alias Mujibur Rahman, Md A Aziz Sardar, Abdul Aziz Sardar, Kazi Ohidul Islam alias Kazi Ohidus Salam, Md Abdul Khaleque Morol, Md Ashraf Hossain, Professor Sharif Ahamed alias Sharif Hossain, Md Abdul Mannan, Md Abdul Bari, Harun, Md Abul Hashem, Gazi Md Abdul Mannan, Nasiruddin Ahmed alias Md Nasir alias Captain ATM Nasir, Md Hafizuddin, Md Azharul Islam, Syed Md Hachhan alias Syed Md. Hasan alias Hachhen Ali and Abdul Jabbar Engineer.
However, the Interpol has issued red notice against only six persons on its website. They are Abul Kalam Azad, Abdul Jabbar, Sayed Md Hachhan Ali, Ashrafuzzaman Khan, Sayed Md Hossain and Zahid Hossain Khokon.
When contacted, Assistant Inspector General (media) Sohel Rana said: “The red notices against six persons, who have been charged with war crimes, were published as per the request of the ICT."
The red notices are entertained by the IPSG (Interpol Secretary General) as per the request from concerned investigation unit (here ICT), said the official adding: "The NCB (National Central Bureau)-Dhaka is now waiting for the request letter for the red notices from ICT for other fugitives.”
Jahid Imam, a member of the prosecution team, said the justice seekers not only became happy over the ICT's verdict against war criminals, but also very disappointed over the failure of the law enforcement agencies in arresting them. "So we hope the authorities concerned will take quick and necessary actions to implement the tribunal order," he told Dhaka Tribune.
ICT case summary
The International Crimes Tribunal is now holding 29 cases and has already announced verdict in 38 cases against 96 persons.
The investigation agency of ICT is investigating 24 cases against 39 persons for allegation of involvement in crimes against humanity during liberation war of 1971. The agency has submitted a total of 71 investigation reports to the tribunal and received a total of 685 allegations of crimes against humanity against 3583 persons.
Of those, a total of 23 appeals have been filed with the appellate division of the Supreme Court till to date.
Following the verdicts of the ICT tribunal, the apex court of the country has so far disposed off the appeals of ten cases. So far, six war criminals have been executed.
