War Crimes Trial
Decision on Alim's indictment on June 11
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday fixed June 11 to decide whether it would indict former BNP lawmaker Abdul Alim for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War.
The three-member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir and members Justice Obaidul Hassan and Judge M Shahinur Islam set the date after the prosecution and the defence completed their lengthy arguments over charge framing against Alim.
If the tribunal frames the charges, trial would begin against the three-time lawmaker and former minister with the opening statement from the prosecution. Otherwise, he would be discharged from war crimes charges.
Abdul Alim is facing 74 charges of crimes against humanity in 28 incidents during the Liberation War. He was present at the courtroom yesterday.
Alim was arrested on March 27, 2011, and has been on conditional bail since March 31 last year. The Tribunal-1 had taken the charges brought against him into cognisance on March 27 this year after the prosecution submitted formal charges against him on March 15 this year.
On April 16, Tribunal-1 transferred three cases including Alim's to Tribunal-2 for quick disposal and the second tribunal started Alim's case proceeding on April 24.
The prosecution alleged that Alim, an influential leader of East Pakistan Conventional Muslim League, formed Peace Committee and Razakar Bahini (two collaborator forces) in Joypurhat in 1971 and committed killings, genocide, rape, looting, arson and other crimes against humanity in association with the auxiliary forces and the Pakistan army.
The defence claimed that the trial was being held 40 years after the crimes were committed only to “suppress the opposition” and the prosecution brought allegations against Alim but lacked sufficient legal basis and evidence.
During yesterday's arguments, defence counsel Tajul Islam said the Awami League-led government was in power during 1996-2001 but it did not take initiative to hold the trials. He said the prosecution has failed to explain the reasons behind the long delay.
In response to the defence argument, Justice Obaidul Hassan said, “Your [Tajul] client was a minister of the government. Why they [the then government] did not take initiative to hold the trial? You just give the explanation on behalf of your client.”
As per the defence documents, Alim was the textiles minister during 1978-1979 and communication minister during 1979-82.
Tajul pleaded that the tribunal discharges Alim from the charges brought against him.
Placing short argument afterwards Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta said the accused committed crimes against humanity as member of the auxiliary force as well as individually during the Liberation War and the trial is to be held for “establishing rule of law and upholding democracy” in the country.
He pleaded the tribunal to frame charge against the accused.
Alim is among four BNP and Jamaat leaders facing crimes against humanity charges at Tribunal-2. The tribunal also issued an arrest warrant against expelled Jamaat member Abdul Kalam Azad who is now at large.
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