The hearing on charge framing against fugitive war crimes accused Zahid Hossain Khokon alias Khokon Razakar began Thursday at the International Crimes Tribunal 1.
Prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman read out 11 out of the 13 charges pressed against Khokon, the sitting mayor of Nagarkanda municipality in Faridpur and president of Nagarkanda union BNP, for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The prosecutor said: “Khokon was so cruel in his act that he even killed children in their parent’s arms.”
Before lunch break, the tribunal led by Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir adjourned the hearing till September 17 when the prosecution would complete its hearing on the charges.
The investigation agency submitted the probe report against Khokon on May 30 bringing 13 charges of crimes against humanity.
In the beginning of the day’s proceedings, the tribunal enquired about police report on the fugitive accused. The prosecutor said Khokon was out of country.
Then the tribunal asked state defence counsel Abdus Shukur Khan whether he tried to contact the family of the accused. The lawyer said he tried but failed. He also submitted a discharge petition for his client.
The charges include confinement, torture, looting and arson in village Banagram under Nagarkanda police station in Faridpur on April 27, 1971. The second charge involves looting, arson and realising money in Nagarkanda on any day between April 28 and May 6. The third charge states forced conversion and deportation of Hindu community people in village Jangurdi-Bagutia in between May 16 and May 28.
The fourth charge accuses Khokon of looting, arson, destruction of temples and houses and rape in village Chandghat on May 27 while the fifth charge is about genocide, looting and arson in village Shahidnagar-Kodalia on May 30.
According to the sixth charge, Khokon is accused of murder, genocide, serious injuring and arson in village Ishwardi on May 30. The seventh charge is for murder, genocide and looting in three villages Shahidnagar-Kodalia, Banagram and Meherdia on May 31.
The eighth charge is for murder, looting and arson in village Goaldi on May 31 while the ninth charge involves murder, genocide, looting and arson in village Purapara the same day.
The 10th charge states murder, genocide, looting and arson in village Bagat-Churiarchar on June 1 and the 11th and the last charge is for seriously injuring one by shooting with the intention of killing in village Jangurdi-Bagutia.
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.
The tribunal on August 14 ordered that Khokon Razakar would be tried in absentia.
