BANGLADESH NEWS
Former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam is facing trial for his role during the Liberation War, not for his political affiliation, observed the International Crimes Tribunal-1 while rejecting a petition on review of charges.
Ghulam Azam, considered by many as the symbol of war crimes during the Liberation War in 1971, was indicted on five charges based on 60 incidents of crimes against humanity on May 13.
"He is not being tried just only for his political affiliation; he is rather being tried for his role during the Liberation War and for killing innocent people," said Chairman of the Tribunal Justice Md Nizamul Huq before rejecting the petition.
Defence counsel Abdur Razzaq gave a submission for the review of charges on June 6.
Justice Nizamul Huq said the charges were duly framed against Ghulam Azam following rules and were clear enough. There is time to prove them wrong during the trial proceedings, so the petition is rejected, he added.
With this order there remains no bar to beginning the trial proceedings against the former Jamaat chief, said Prosecutor Zead Al Malum.
Earlier on June 10, the three-member tribunal following an opening statement given by the prosecution fixed June 24 for recording the statement of the first prosecution witness.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday rejected another petition on transfer of the case.
The tribunal chief read out the order for about one and a half hours and mentioned some grounds for rejecting the petitions.
Defence counsel Abdur Razzaq gave a submission for transferring the case from the ICT-1 to the ICT-2 on June 5.
Razzaq submitted a newspaper report published on April 11, 1992 to the tribunal that read some lawyers in a rally demanded that the then government execute a verdict of hanging Ghulam Azam.
The verdict was passed by a people's court on March 26, 1992.
Ainjibi Somonnoy Parishad held a rally on April 10, 1992 and demanded that the government execute the verdict. Justice Nizamul Huq was present at the rally.
Since Justice Huq was present at the rally, the defence fear they might be "prejudiced" if he conducts the trial.
The tribunal yesterday said the defence did not mention how the case will be transferred rather submitted the reasons for the plea.
Justice Huq then mentioned section-11 (A) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, which only allows the chief prosecutor to appeal for the transfer of a case.
The tribunal can also voluntarily transfer a case for the sake of expediting trial proceedings, according to the Act.
From this point, the petition is liable to be rejected, said the tribunal chief.
In case of fair trial, the tribunal also elaborated its view.
Ghulam Azam has been provided with all facilities and the tribunal has issued several orders to the jail authorities at times to supply him amenities according to the defence's demands, said Justice Huq.
Therefore, fear of unfair trial is not correct and the petition is hereby rejected, he added.
Neither Ghulam Azam nor Abdur Razzaq was present at the tribunal.
Earlier, war crimes accused BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury's defence counsel cross-examined prosecution witness Gouranga Singha.
Gouranga was mainly cross-examined for about one and a half hours on the surrounding area of Kundeswari village where Nutan Chandra Singha was allegedly killed by Salahuddin Quader during the War.
The proceeding of the case was adjourned until June 19.
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