The International Crimes Tribunal-2 started reading out the verdict in the case against former state minister Syed Mohammad Qaisar filed against him in the war crimes cases against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

Earlier in the morning, Qaisar was taken to the tribunal from jail by a prison van with tight security.

Justice Obaidul Hassan, chairman of the three-member tribunal, started reading summary of the 484-page verdict at 11:10 am in presence of Qaiser in the dock.

Three-member tribunal headed by Justice Obaidul Hasan set the date on Monday.

The former state minister for agriculture from Jatiya Party, is facing 16 charges, including genocide, torture, murder and rape.

The 73-year-old Qaisar was indicted on February 2. He was arrested in the capital on May 21, 2013.

He faces 16 charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.

Qaisar has been charged for raping an indigenous woman on May 11 or 12th of 1971. Qaisar along with the Pakistani army personnel had gone to Chunarughat area and raped the Santal woman.

Charges one and five state that Qaisar during April 27-30 along with the army men went to Bijoynagar, Madhabpur, Shayestaganj and Habiganj sadar where abduction, confinement, torture and murder took place upon the order of Qaisar.

Charges six, seven and eight mention about the offences took place in May 1971. At that time, at least 17 people had been murdered and seriously tortured by Qaisar along with Pakistani army.

According to charges 12-16, he had captured freedom fighters from Chunarughat, Madhabpur and Nasirnagar. In these criminal incidents, Qaisar used his personal force “Qaisar Bahini” to assist the Pakistani army.


TF