Bangladesh's tribunal slaps 7 charges against Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Tuesday slapped seven charges against the de-registered political party Jamaat-e-Islami for its role in the country's 1971 liberation war.

The charges include involvement in genocide and gross violation of Geneva Convention.

The Jamaat, an ally of the country's leading opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), was de-registered as a political party by the country's election commission in August 2013.

Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of ICT's investigating agency, Tuesday said the 373-page report framing the Jamaat-e-Islami for its role in 1971 war was finalised after a seven-month-long probe, bdnews24.com reported.

The report would be handed over to the prosecution, Khan told a media briefing.

The two war crimes tribunals of Bangladesh have been trying several senior Jamaat leaders since 2010 and several of them have already been sentenced to death or to life imprisonment.

During the trials of its senior leaders for involvement in 1971 war crimes, it became evident that they backed Pakistan's military effort.

The first war crimes tribunal of Bangladesh described Jamaat as a "criminal organisation" in its verdict sentencing its top war-time leader Ghulam Azam to 90 years in prison.

Similar observations were made while handing down verdicts against other Jamaat leaders like Delwar Hossain Sayedee, Abdul Quader Molla and Muhammad Kamaruzzaman.

Hannan Khan said they have found evidence of involvement of Jamaat and its affiliates in genocide, violation of the Geneva Convention and the International Law, attempt to commit crimes against humanity and conspiracy.