Death-row convict Mobarak acquitted in war crimes case

The Appellate Division on Wednesday acquitted Mobarak Hossain, a death-row convict and expelled Awami League leader, in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.

A five-member tribunal, headed by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order.

Senior lawyer Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddique stood for the convict while Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim represented the state during the hearing in the court.

Earlier, on July 22, the court set July 30 to deliver its verdict on the appeal filed by the convict challenging his death sentence.

He was convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on November 24, 2014 for atrocities committed in Brahmanbaria during the 1971 Liberation War.

The ICT handed down the judgment after finding two out of five allegations to be true.

Mobarak is now in jail.

Mobarka served as the organising secretary of Mogra Union Awami League under Akhaura Upazila, Brahmanbaria District, until 2012. Later, he was expelled from the party.

Earlier on May 27 this year, the Appellate Division also acquitted death-row convict Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam in a war crimes case.

The following day, he was freed from Dhaka's Central Jail.

Two death-row convicts have been acquitted following the fall of the AL government on August 5 last.