January 04, 2008	Friday	Zilhaj 24, 1428

DHAKA, Jan 3: A court in Bangladesh has ordered police to submit a report on allegations a former minister committed war crimes during the country's fight for independence from Pakistan, an official said on Thursday.

Matiur Rahman Nizami is leader of the Jamaat-i-Islami party and was industries minister in a coalition government until October 2006.

He is accused along with 13 other people of being responsible for the killing of pro-independence fighters during Bangladesh’s 1971 independence struggle.

Jamaat leaders said on Wednesday they believed the allegations were false and were intended to defame the party.

A magistrate in Dhaka on Wednesday ordered police to submit the report by January 30, said court official Abdul Kader.

The same court ordered the investigation last month after it was alleged that Nizami ordered the killings on Nov 25, 1971.

Magistrate Ashiqul Khabir said: “They (Nizami and his co-accused) are accused of killing many freedom fighters and setting fire to villages.” Four of the accused in the case have died.

—AFP