The International Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday sentenced former Jatiya Party lawmaker Abdul Jabbar to jail till death for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.

Three-member tribunal, led by Justice Enayetur Rahim, pronounced the verdict.

The tribunal also sentenced the 83-year-old Jabbar to 20 years imprisonment with a fine of Tk 10 lakh for forced conversion of Hindus to Muslims during the Liberation War.

On December 3, the ICT-1 concluded the trial proceedings of Jabbar and kept the case waiting for verdict delivery. He is facing five charges.

Octogenarian Jabbar of Khetachhira in Mathbaria was the vice-chairman of Jatiya Party. He had joined the Pakistan Muslim League through his father-in-law, Arshed Ali Hawlader, who was an influential Muslim League leader at that time.

Jabbar later joined the Jatiya Party of Gen (retd) HM Ershad and was elected MP twice with the party tickets in 1986 and 1988.

Charges against Jabbar:

* Killing two freedom fighters at Mathbarhia’s Phuljhuri during the Liberation War. Torching and ransacking of over 100 houses at Nathparha and Kuluparha in Pirojpur.

* Killing a man at Phuljhuri, setting fire to 360 houses before looting them.

* Killing 11 people at Pirojpur’s Noli village, looting and setting fire to 60 houses there.

* Forced conversion of 200 Hindus at Phuljhuri.

* Detaining 37 people from Angulkata and Mathbarhia, killing 22 of them and seriously injuring others. - See more at: http://www.observerbd.com/2015/02/24/74474.php#sthash.3oZfY5Ss.dpuf

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