Nizami indictment decision May 28
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will decide on May 28 if it would indict Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971.
The three-member tribunal set the date after Nizami's counsel Abdur Razzaq concluded the defence's arguments in favour of an application seeking discharge of the Jamaat chief.
If indicted, Nizami will face trial at the tribunal. Otherwise, he will be discharged.
The Jamaat chief was produced before the court yesterday. He is facing 15 charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the 1971 war.
Abdur Razzaq, the chief defence counsel of Jamaat leaders, yesterday argued that the charges against Nizami were “too vague”.
The counsel referred to some charges, which mentioned anti-liberation statements and speeches given by Nizami during the war.
Razzaq argued that the prosecution had failed to substantiate the statements and speeches' connection to any crimes.
“Where are the alleged crimes?” said the counsel, adding that the prosecution was “thousands of miles away” from connecting the statements to any crimes.
He also went on to add that several charges mentioned that the “supporters of Nizami” had conducted atrocities on his directives.
“Who are these supporters? This is too vague and should have been more specific”.
Upon hearing the arguments from the defence counsel, the tribunal fixed May 28 for deciding whether or not to frame charges against the Jamaat chief.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is headed by Justice Md Nizamul Huq with Justice Anwarul Huq and AKM Zaheer Ahmed as the two other members.
SALAUDDIN QUADER CHOWDHURY
After proceedings against Nizami were over, the tribunal resumed proceedings against BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, another war crimes accused, by hearing the opening statement from the prosecution.
In the statement, prosecutor Zead Al Malum went through the historical context of this part of the subcontinent at length. He dwelt on the events that led to the Liberation War before the court adjourned proceedings for the day.
The proceedings against Salauddin Quader have been adjourned till May 7, when the tribunal is scheduled to record depositions of prosecution witnesses against the BNP leader.
The tribunal also directed Salauddin Quader's defence to submit a list of witnesses and documents it will rely on in the case by May 17.
In response to a defence application seeking adjournment of yesterday's proceedings, Justice Md Nizamul Huq said the tribunal was “not inclined to adjourn the opening statement” from the prosecution.
The tribunal, however, granted the defence more time to submit its documents and names of witnesses.
Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was produced before the court yesterday. He is facing 23 specific charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War of 1971.
At one point during yesterday's proceedings, the BNP leader told the tribunal that there were some discrepancies between the formal charges the prosecution submitted to the tribunal, and the charges that were framed against him.
“One thing was given and another thing was taken”, he said.
Zaheer Ahmed, a judge of the tribunal, asked Salaudin Quader and his defence to specify the discrepancies so that the court could sort them out.
SQ Chowdhury and Motiur Rahman Nizami are two of the six Jamaat-e-Islami and two BNP leaders facing war crimes charges at two tribunals.
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