Former Jamaat MP Khaleq Mondol among two to die for 1971 war crimes

Former Jamaat lawmaker Abdul Khaleq Mondol and Khan Roknuzzaman have been given the death sentence for crimes against humanity, including murder and rape, committed in Satkhira during the Liberation War.

International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, announced the verdict on Thursday.

Khaleq Mondol was in the dock when the verdict was delivered while Roknuzzaman had been tried in absentia.

In 1971, Khaleq was the organizer of Razakar forces in Satkhira, and Roknuzzaman was a member of that force.

File photo of former Jamaat lawmaker Abdul Khaleq Mondol Focus Bangla

The prosecution had charged the two with a total of six counts of crimes against humanity, all of which had been proved beyond doubt, the tribunal said.

File photo of Khan Roknuzzaman Collected

The case was filed in 2015 and the tribunal started the trial on March 5, 2018 with the indictment of four accused. 

Of them, Abdullah-Al-Baki and Zahirul Islam alias Tekka Khan died while on trial. 

Former Satkhira 2 lawmaker Khaleq was arrested during investigation, while Roknuzzaman is still at large.

People take to the streets to celebrate the verdict against Abdul Khaleq Mondol and Khan Roknuzzaman for war crimes, in Satkhira, Thursday, March 24, 2022 Dhaka Tribune

The district unit of the Awami League, its affiliated organizations and people from all walks of life took to the streets to celebrate verdict.

One of the witnesses in the case, Hafizur Rahman Masum, who participated in the rally, said: “These Jamaat leaders carried out killings, rapes, arson and looting during and after the war… The honour of the people of Satkhira will be restored once the verdict is implemented.”

Meanwhile, additional forces were deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents.