Namesake war crimes convicts create confusion, ICT prosecutor clarifies

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Aminul Islam has clarified the identities of two war crimes convicts named Akram to resolve confusion following a Supreme Court acquittal.

The clarification came on Thursday after the Appellate Division overturned the 2014 ICT judgement that had sentenced Khan Akram Hossain from Bagerhat to imprisonment until death.

The Chief Prosecutor explained that two separate individuals named Akram were tried and convicted by the tribunal. The individuals were given separate sentences.

“There is no scope to mix up the two,” Aminul told reporters, providing specific details to distinguish them.

Khan Akram Hossain was sentenced to stay in prison until death in 2014, and is the son of Jainal Abedin, the prosecutor said.

The other Akram, identified with a single name, was sentenced to death in 2023. He is the son of Mokhtar Hossain.

The chief prosecutor noted that the record of the 2014 case contains no mention of the other Akram’s trial.

He emphasised that legal arguments must rely strictly on evidence and records rather than personal knowledge.

Aminul said the defence also noted the existence of two different men.

According to the defence plea, he said, the Akram sentenced in 2023 was a Razakar or collaborator, while the recently acquitted Khan Akram Hossain had allegedly assisted in moving people safely to India.

“Our case was specifically against Akram, son of Jainal Abedin. The other is Akram, son of Mokhtar Hossain,” he added.