Matiur Rahman Nizami, chief of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, who was arrested last year along with four other senior members of his party. Now one of the four - Delwar Hossain Sayeedi - faces war crimes charges. Photograph: Rafiqur Rahman/ReutersA Landmark Moment in Bangladesh's Slow Crawl Toward Justice -- Time
In Dhaka, a war crimes tribunal charged its first suspect on some 20 counts, including crimes against humanity. Delwar Hossain Sayedee, a leading figure in the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country's most important Islamist party, will now go to court Oct. 30. If you haven't heard of the case, it's not your fault — the 1971 genocide in Bangladesh is perhaps the least discussed mass slaughter in the history of the 20th century. According to some accounts, up to 3 million people were killed and hundred of thousands of women were raped in a nine-month orgy of violence as Pakistani soldiers and loyalists to Islamabad tried to quell the rebellion that eventually led to East Pakistan splintering off into the independent state of Bangladesh.
Read more ....
More News On War Crime Trials In Bangladesh
Bangladesh party leader accused of war crimes in 1971 conflict --- The Guardian
Bangladesh charges first suspect over 1971 war -- AFP
Bangladesh indicts Islamic leader for war crimes -- AP
Bangladesh war crimes: First charges filed -- BBC
Bangladesh War Crimes Tribunal Indicts Islamic Leader -- Voice of America
WNU Editor: Wikipedia has more background information on the war that led to today's war crime charges.