Monthly Archives: November 2013

28 November 2013: ICT-1 Daily Summary – Channel 24 and Others, Contempt Proceedings; Zahid Hossain Khokon, PW-8 and PW-9

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Channel 24 and Others
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Zahid Hossain Khokon

Contempt Proceedings

On 26 September 2013, the Tribunal issued a notice towards Channel 24 and others, asking them to give reply by 10 October as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them. The order particularly asked Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury and Mahfuz Ullah to personally appear before the Tribunal to explain positions they represented about the Tribunal on a talk Show on Channel 24. The Court further ordered that Channel 24 not broadcast the impugned episode again.

Today, 28 November 2013 was set for a hearing in these contempt proceedings. However, Mahfuz Ullah was not personally present before the Tribunal. Instead, he submitted a written reply through his lawyers. The Prosecution persisted in seeking the in-person appearance of Mahfuz Ullah before the Tribunal. The Tribunal agreed, setting 1 December 2013 as the date for expected personal appearance by Mahfuz Ullah.  They further fixed 24 December 2013 for a hearing on the contempt matter.

Zahid Hossain Khokon

In the case against Zahid Hossain Khokon, the Tribunal recorded the testimony of Hafizur Rahman Chanu (PW-8) and Alauddin Sheikh (PW-9). Thereafter, the state-appointed Defense Counsel cross-examined the witnesses. Both witnesses testified in support of Charge 5 and 7. Continue reading →

27 November 2013: ICT-1 Daily Summary – Zahid Hossain Khokon, PW-6

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Zahid Hossain Khokon

In the case against Zahid Hossain Khokon, the Tribunal recorded the testimony of Idris Sardar, Prosecution Witness 6. Idris Sardar testified in support of Charge 7. Thereafter, the state appointed Defense Counsel cross-examined the witness.  Continue reading →

26 November 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Hartal Coverage of AKM Yusuf, Cross-Examination of PW-12 Delayed

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

Due to a renewed hartal, our researcher for ICT-2 could not safely travel to the Court to attend proceedings today.  The following coverage was compiled from communication directly with the Court and the Parties to the proceedings.

The Court was scheduled to record the cross-examination of PW-12 in the case against AKM Yusuf today. However, junior defense counsel, Mr. Gazi M H Tamim, informed the Tribunal that the senior counsel, Mr, Syed Mizanur Rahman, could not appear in the court due to the hartal. The Tribunal observed that although hartals may continue, it does not mean that the Court should keep adjourning every. Nevertheless, the Tribunal did adjourn for the day, after closing the cross-examination of the witness. The Bench again warned the Defense that if they continued to choose to be absent on Hartal days, the court would not sit idle in their absence.

26 November 2013: ICT-1 Daily Summary – Zahid Hossain Khokon, PW-4 and PW-5; Mobarak Hossain, Defense Case-in-Chief; Fakhrul Islam, Contempt Proceedings

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Zahid Hossain Khokon
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Mobarak Hossain
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. Fakhrul Islam

Zahid Hossain Khokon

In the case against Zahid Hossain Khokon, the Tribunal recorded the testimony of Abdul Hye Mollah (PW-4) and Yunus Mollah (PW-5). Abdul Hye Mollah testified in support of Charges 1, 5 and 7, while and Yunus Mollah testified in support of Charge 1 and 7. Following direct examination, the state-appointed Defense Counsel cross-examined the witnesses.

Mobarak Hossain

In the case against Mobarak Hossain, the Tribunal announced that it would limit the number of Defense witnesses to three, and set December 1, 2013 for recording the testimony of DW-1.

Contempt Proceedings

The Tribunal set December 12 for a hearing on contempt notice issued against Fakhrul Islam, Defense counsel of Salauddin Qader Chowdhury.  Continue reading →