The war crimes tribunal has ordered to begin the trial of former Jatiya Party lawmaker engineer Mohammad Abdul Jabbar in absentia.
The International Crimes Tribunal 1, led by its chairman M Enayetur Rahim, passed the order on Tuesday morning.
The tribunal fixed July 20 for charge framing hearing against Jabbar.
The tribunal also appointed Abul Hossain as state defence counsel in the case.
The accused, chairman of local unit of Peace Committee during the 1971 Liberation War, has been fugitive since 2009.
After the prosecution had pressed five charges of crimes against humanity on May 10, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Jabbar on May 12.
Jabbar, 82, faces allegations of murder, genocide, forced conversion and looting during the war.
