A Dhaka tribunal Sunday indicted former agriculture minister Syed Mohammad Qaisar on 16 charges, including genocide, torture, murder and rape during the Bangladesh War Liberation in 1971.

According to the prosecution, the 73-year-old Qaisar from Jatiya Party formed a group named “Qaisar Bahini” with help of 500 to 700 men who committed crimes against humanity in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria districts of the country during the war of independence, the Daily Star reported.

Qaisar was also a commander of the Rajakars, which was one of the paramilitary forces formed by Pakistan during the war in the country, the prosecution said.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan fixed March 4 for the opening statement of the prosecution.

Qaisar, who was presented before the war crimes tribunal, pleaded “not guilty” after the court read out the charges against him.

  Former Bangladesh minister, indicted for 1971 war crimes