Category Archives: Trial of AKM Yusuf

6 November 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – AKM Yusuf, PW-3

Despite being the final day of a 60-hour nationwide Hartal, ICT-1 proceeded to hear matters in the following case:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

It was the third day and last day of the continuous 60-hour countrywide hartal that began at 6:00 am on 4 November 2013, and was enforced by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance. Nonetheless, the Tribunal recorded testimony today from PW-3 in the case against AKM Yusuf. Mr. Shamsul Alam alias Jahangir, who now 53 years old, gave testimony as PW-3. He is the son of Dr. Abdul Majid, who was a physician by profession and also participated in organizing of the War of Liberation. The testimony of the witness mainly related to Charge 12, pertaining to the killing of Dr. Majid, but the testimony also supported Charges 1 and 3. Continue reading →

October 2013: ICT-2 Monthly Overview of Progress of Cases – Abdul Alim, Final Verdict; Jahir Uddin Jalal, Contempt Proceedings

Due to funding uncertainties late in the year, our project was forced to take a hiatus in the month of October.  During this time, our trial observers were not physically present in the courtroom to observe proceedings.  Trial observation resumed in November, after additional funding was secured to continue the project.  In the interest of continuity, we have compiled two brief posts—one for ICT-1 and the other for ICT-2— highlighting major developments in each of the cases that took place during our October hiatus. As we have done with Hartal coverage of the proceedings, the following information was compiled from official court records and communication with the parties to the proceedings.

This month, the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Jahir Uddin Jalal
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

Tribunal 2 made more limited progress in October than in other months due to a combination of holidays and hartals. The Court was adjourned a number of days in observance of government holidays for Durga Puja (an important Hindu festival) and Eid-ul-Azha (an important Muslim festival), followed by several country-wide hartals, called by the major opposition parties of Bangladesh. The Court convened on 9 October 2013 to deliver Judgment in the case of Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim, and again on 10 October 2013 to hear arguments in the contempt proceedings against a Prosecution witness, Mr. Jahir Uddin Jalal. These major days of proceedings are covered separately in dedicated daily posts for each day.  Aside from the Judgment and the contempt proceedings, the following highlights the Court’s schedule in October. Continue reading →

10 October 2013: ICT-2 Special Report – AKM Yusuf, Bail Hearing; Jahir Uddin Jalal alias Bicchu, Contempt Proceedings

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Jahir Uddin Jalal

On 10 October 2013 heard a bail application from senior Defense counsel Abdur Razzak, on behalf of AKM Yusuf.  Counsel sought release of the Accused on grounds of recent deterioration of his health. The Court directed the jail authorities to submit an updated health report to the Tribunal, reflecting the latest health condition of the Accused. It fixed 23 October 2013 as the next date for passing further orders in regard to his bail.

Also today, the tribunal passed its long awaited order in the contempt proceedings against Jahir Uddin Jalal. These contempt proceeding had received significant attention from the Bangladeshi public, in particular amongst members of the Bar, so we elected to review the charges in detail here, as compiled from previous daily summaries where we covered the matter.

Continue reading →

26 September 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Jahir Uddin Jalal, Contempt Proceedings; AKM Yusuf, Adjourned

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Jahir Uddin Jalal
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. AKM Yusuf

 Today, Tribunal 2 fixed 10 October 2013 as the date for passing an order in the contempt proceedings against Jahir Uddin Jalal, PW-2 in the case against Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid.

The Court also rescheduled the case of AKM Yusuf to 06 October 2013, since the Prosecution failed to produce its first witness today.

After pronouncing upon these matters, Tribunal 2 adjourned for the day.

5 September 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Ashrafuzzaman Khan and Chowdhury Mueen Uddin, Examination of PW-21; AKM Yusuf, Examination of PW

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan & Chowdhury Mueen Uddin
  2. Chief Prosecutor v. AKM Yusuf

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.

Continue reading →