War Crimes Trial
Contempt of court charges sought against Matia
Defence counsels of war crimes accused Muhammad Kamaruzzaman yesterday filed a petition asking ICT-2 to bring contempt of court charges against Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury for allegedly making statements disrespecting the tribunal.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 fixed September 5 to hear the petition.
Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta told the tribunal that politicians might say many things in the political arena and the defence should not bring everything before the tribunal “to delay the trial proceedings.”
Quoting the petition, defence counsel Tajul Islam said ruling Awami League presidium member Matia made the statements during a visit to her Sherpur constituency on August 7 and 8.
Quoting an August 8 Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha report published in Daily Naya Diganta, Tajul said Matia, at Nalitabari on August 7, said, “Those giving evidence in favour of war criminals would be identified and a resistance movement would be waged against them in the locality.”
Quoting a Barta24.net report, Tajul said Matia, on August 8, said, “No witness giving evidence in favour of Kamaruzzaman would be able to return home as that person would be beaten up by the public.”
Such statements would infuse fear in defence witnesses and they would not appear before the tribunal, a clear obstruction to justice delivery, he said.
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