Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:
- Chief Prosecutor vs. ATM Azharul Islam
In the case of ATM Azharul Islam, today was set to hear a petition filed by Defense to review the charge framing order. The hearing was previously rescheduled on December 2. However, the senior Defense Counsel Abdur Razzak, who was supposed to argue the petition, was once again absent from the Tribunal. Defense again sought adjournment on the grounds of “personal difficulties.” The Tribunal agreed once again to push back the hearing, setting 8 December for the review petition.
Despite senior Defense Counsel’s absence, the Prosecution proceeded to place their opening statements and read out all of the six charges brought against ATM Azharul Islam. The allegations accuse him of genocide, killings, abduction, confinement, torture, rape, looting and arson attack. The Prosecution described ATM Azharul Islam as President of Islami Chhatra Shangho (student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami) and Al-Badr commander of Rangpur. The Tribunal set 19 December 2013 to begin recording the testimony of Prosecution witnesses. The Prosecution also filed a petition to allow three Prosecution witnesses to testify in camera. The Tribunal set 8 December 2013 for a hearing of arguments from the parties on this petition.
The Bangladesh Trial Observer 