Bangladesh begins 1971 war crimes trial

Bangladesh begins 1971 war crimes trial

Bangladesh on Sunday began the controversial war crimes trial with a top Islamist party leader Delwar Hossain Sayeedi being the first suspect to go on trial for allegations of genocide, rape, murder and arson committed during the country's 1971 Liberation war. Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipu and senior prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman read out a lengthy statement before the three-judge International Crimes Tribunal at the Supreme Court complex where Sayeedi stood in the dock. “We brought 20 charges of ‘crimes against humanity’ including genocide, rape, murder, arson and looting committed during the Liberation War,” Rezaur Rahman said.