Dhaka, Feb 23 (IANS): The war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh will announce its verdict on former Jatiya Party legislator Abdul Jabbar on charges of genocide and other serious war crimes Tuesday, according to media reports Monday.

The verdict would be delivered in absentia as Jabbar has been absconding since the trial started, bdnews24.com reported.

The charges against Jabbar include the killings of 36 people, forced conversion of 200 Hindus, looting 557 houses and arson during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 led by Justice Enayetur Rahim finished the trial proceedings in absentia Wednesday last week.

The ICT is a specially constituted court set up to prosecute those who committed war crimes during Bangladesh's War of Independence.

The tribunal had earlier declared Jabbar an absconder and appointed Supreme Court lawyer Abul Hasan as his counsel.

On May 11, the prosecution pressed charges against the former Jatiya Party lawmaker and investigations into his alleged crimes started May 19 last year.

According to the investigators, the 80-year-old engineer is now in the US.