Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim – Defense Petition for Time and Adjournment (Accused Present)

The Defense for Alim submitted a time petition before the Tribunal-2 requesting an adjournment of the case until Sunday, 3 March 2013. The Defense counsel said that the two other senior counsels engaged in the case are currently unavailable, one by reason of his illness and the other because of personal difficulty. The Tribunal Chairman commented that in the interest of justice the Tribunal must grant additional time when counsel is unable to appear because of personal difficulty. However, he stated that such absences cannot continue frequently and continuously. The delay should be compensated by cost implications. Prosecutor Rana Das Gupta submitted that the Defense should pay a cost of Taka 50,000 (fifty thousand), so as to communicate a message to everyone that causing delay will come with burdensome consequences.

The Tribunal adjourned the case until Sunday, requiring the Defense counsel to pay a total of Taka 2,000. The court said that this shall be paid from the counsel’s own pocket and the client should not pay or bear any burden. The Defense counsel said the fine would be paid and apologized for the unwanted delay in the proceedings.