Allowing a defence plea, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday refrained from passing order as to whether it would indict detained Mir Quasem Ali, a Jamaat-e-Islami policymaker, for ‘committing crimes against humanity’ during the 1971 Liberation War.
On August 21, after closing the hearing on charges from both the defence and the prosecution, the tribunal set today (Thursday) for order on charge matter.
The postponement order came after defence counsel Mizanul Islam, quoting Barrister Abdur Razzaq, now holidaying in the USA, told the tribunal that the principal counsel expressed his willingness to make argument on defence discharge petition requesting for a week’s adjournment in this regard.
Designated prosecutor Zead Al Malum opposed the defence plea. Hearing both sides, the tribunal re-fixed September 5 for order on charge matter.
Nearly three months ago, on May 26, the tribunal took cognisance of the charges made against Quasem Ali, also chairman of private television channel Diganta (operation now suspended).
Quasem Ali faces 14 counts of charges of crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
According to the prosecution, Quasem Ali, also a 1971 front-ranking leader of Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS), had perpetrated various crimes against humanity like killing, looting, abduction, persecution, genocide, rape, and setting fire to the houses of unarmed civilians during the Liberation War.
The accused had also set up makeshift torture camps at different places in the port city where freedom-loving people were handed down punishment. – UNB
