A tribunal in Dhaka today sentenced Mahidur Rahman and Afsar Hossain to life until death for their involvement in the killing 24 people in the Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabgang District during the Liberation War in 1971.
They had earlier been jailed for five years as the two, accompanied by armed Razakars, launched a systematic attack on Kabirajtola and Eradot Biswasertola on October 13, 1971 and looted and burned down houses of the villages.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 led by its Chairman Obaidul Hassan found both Mahidur and Afsar guilty in two of three charges levelled against them and delivered the verdict, reports the Daily Star.
The ICT-2 also rebuked Altafur Rahman, the investigation officer of the case, for bringing the third charge against them as they had already served life terms on this charge under the collaboration act after the Liberation War.
Terming the IO "incompetent", the judge said the prosecution is failed to properly investigate the charges against the duo.
According to the prosecution, Mahidur, 84, son of late Subedar Ali Biswas of Dadanchak in Shibganj, was involved in the politics of Muslim League prior to 1971 and joined the Peace Committee and Razakar force during the war.
More From This Section
Afsar, 65, son of late Kutub Uddin Morol of Satrosia of Shibganj, had also been an active worker of Muslim League and joined the Peace Committee and Razakar force.
Associated with other Razakars, they had jointly committed atrocities around the localities, the prosecution alleged.
Mahidur and Afsar were arrested in a criminal case on September 16 last year. Later, they were shown arrested in the war crimes case on November 24 and the tribunal framed three charges against them on December 11.