The war crimes tribunal has handed the death penalty to Riaz Uddin Fakir for the atrocities committed in Mymensingh during the 1971 War of Independence.

He has been found guilty of crime against humanity, including genocide as a member of the Al-Badr, the vigilante militia of the Pakistani forces.

The three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, said that all four charges levelled against him have been proven without doubt.

Fakir has been sentenced to death in two counts while prison until death in the remaining two.

The prosecution was satisfied over the verdict. “Justice has been served,” Chief ICT Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo told the media.

The defence said they will challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. “A decision will be taken after discussing it with the client,” said counsel MI Shaheen.

On Oct 12, 2014, the investigation was operated by Ataur Rahman. After an ICT order, on Aug 11, 2015, the accused was arrested and sent to jail on Oct 12 of the same year.

The investigations in to the charges, led by Ataur Rahman, opened in October 2014. In August next year, Fakir was arrested and sent to jail by the ICT.

The investigation report was submitted to the court on Feb 18, 2016. Four days later, the prosecution brought charges against Reaz. On Mar 23, the court ordered the trial after indicting the suspect.

On Feb 7, 2018, the court heard the arguments and on Mar 21, the court said the verdict is expected any day now.

On Wednesday (May 9), the court scheduled the verdict for Thursday, when it convicted Reaz of 1971 war crimes.

ICT prosecutors had levelled several charges against Riaz Uddin Fakir. The Charges are:

• On Aug 22, 1971, Riaz Uddin Fakir along with several other razakars detained Phulbaria’s Abdul Majid before taking him to the local Razakar camp, where he was tortured. The same day, Shahidullah Master, Jamshed Ali and several other unidentified people were confined at the Razakar camp. On Aug 25, they were shot dead and the bodies were dumped into a local river.
• On Nov 5, 1971, Riaz Uddin Fakir along with the Pakistani army held Basanti Rishi, Geeta Rani Rishi and Nirmala Rishi from Rishipara village of Phulbaria Police Station in Mymensingh, the Pakistani soldiers raped the detained. Gonen Rishi, Rifat Rishi, Ganan Rishi, Kalu Rishi, Mangala Rishi, Dinesh Rishi, Umesh Rishi and Mahindar Rishi were shot dead and the bodies were thrown into the local river.
• On Nov 13, 1971, local Al-Badr commander Fakir, flanked by several armed men, opened fire at the Asim Bazar market. As many 43 civilians were killed in the attack, including 13 who were detained from the scene and shot dead later in the day and the bodies were dumped into Akhalia River.
• On Nov 21, 1971, Riaz Uddin, along with several other razakars, tortured Altaf Ali Mondal, Taleb Ali Mandal, Sekender Ali Mandal and Lal Mahmud Mondal from Valukjan village, while Lal Mahmud Mondol was released and the other three were shot dead.