Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:
1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
Prosecutor Dr Tureen Afroz made her closing submission on points of law before Tribunal 2 in the case against Abdul Alim. Previously, Prosecutor Rana Das Gupta had finished the Prosecution submission on evidentiary aspects of the case. This marked the end of prosecution case against Alim. The defense closing argument is scheduled to commence from 15 September 2013. Continue reading
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:
In the case of Motiur Rahman Nizami, the Tribunal recorded the examination-in-chief and cross-examination of Yusuf Ali Biswas, Prosecution witness 21. He testified in support of charge 1. Charge 1 alleged that the accused Motiur Rahman Nizami was responsible for the arrest, detention, torture and murder of Kasim Uddin and two others. It charges the accused with crimes against humanity specified in section 3(2)(a), 4(1) and 4(2) of the ICT Act 1973.
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:
Today Tribunal 2 recorded the testimony of PW-22 in the case against Ashrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, both of whom are being tried jointly and in absentia with representations from state-appointed defense counsels Mr. Abdus Shukur Khan and Ms. Salma Hye Tuni.
Delwar Hossain, who is now 70 years old, gave testimony as PW-22. He is an eyewitness, and the only detainee who managed to survive the Rayerbazar massacre. The witness suspects that he was targeted by Al-Badr men after he got into an argument with a non-Bengali director of his company who was also a retired Air Force officer. Delwar described how he was abducted from his house on 14 December 1971, at around 10 am. He said that six armed men wearing khaki colored clothing, and two others in civil uniform, entered his house while Pakistani army officers waited at a distance. He stated that Continue reading
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following case:
Prosecutor Rana Das Gupta continued his closing submissions from 4 September 2013 in the case against Abdul Alim. The Prosecution once again reiterated the strong position of authority Alim appeared to have. Counsel contended that the accused Alim had been at the core of the crimes against humanity that took place in Laipurhat. Prosecutors argued that he was so powerful that his own accomplices as well as members of the Pakistani army used to execute his orders. The Prosecution also submitted that the Peace Committee and Rajakar men referred the family members of detainees to go to Abdul Alim to procure the release of their loved ones. Referring to the testimony of multiple witnesses, Prosecutor Rana submitted that there were instances where the family members were also compelled to give cash and gold jewelry to Alim in order to facilitate the release of a prisoner. The fate of the detainees lay in the hands of the Accused, and according to the Prosecution, many were killed in accordance with his will.
The Prosecutor reviewed testimony from witnesses who had corroborated each of the charges in the indictment. It became clear during this evidentiary review, that no evidence in support of Charge 4 or 5 had been adduced. Accordingly, Prosecutors made no submissions in support of these two charges in closing arguments.
Prosecutor Dr Tureen Afroz is expected to give detailed submissions on legal points later this week, on 11 September 2013.
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:
Tribunal 2 recorded the testimony of two Prosecution witnesses, one in the case against Ahrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and the other in the case against AKM Yusuf.
Ashafuzzaman and Mueen are being tried jointly and in absentia, as one resides in New York and the other in London. Sazzad, who gave testimony in this case as PW-21 told the tribunal that Ashrafuzzaman Khan had been a tenant in their Nakhalpara house and stayed there occasionally during the War of Liberation in 1971.
The Bangladesh Trial Observer 