8 August 2013 was the first day of Eid in Bangladesh. The Tribunal was not in session and continued to be in recess through 11 August 2013.
7 August 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Recess
Today the Tribunal was in Recess.
6 August 2013: ICT 1 and 2 Daily Summary – National Holiday
Today, 6th August 2013, was a government holiday for Sab-e-Qadr. The Tribunal was therefore in recess.
7 August 2013: ICT-1 Daily Summary – Chowdhury Defense Closing Arguments, Qasem Ali Pre Trial
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:
- Chief Prosecutor vs. Mir Qasem Ali
- Chief Prosecutor vs. Salauddin Qader Chowdhury
Today the Tribunal was scheduled to hearing the Defense’s application for dismissal of the charges against Mir Qasem Ali. However, senior Defense counsel Abdur Razzak requested adjournment saying that after being granted privileged communication with Qasem Ali, the Defense had only 48 hours to prepare for the hearing. Additionally, the Defense noted that the Prosecution had only just served the Defense the type written copies of the illegible documents, numbering 38 pages. The Tribunal granted the request and adjourned the proceedings of the case until 18 August 2013.
In the Salauddin Qader Chowdhury case, Defense counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena again sought adjournment saying that he is still sick. He further stated that due to Eid his junior was on leave. Without anyone to assist him he said it would be difficult for him to continue. The Tribunal denied the request again saying that they cannot adjourn the case due to the personal problems or illness of a Defense counsel when there is another Defense counsel (Fakhrul Islam) available in the same case. Thereafter, Ahsanul Huq Hena continued the Defense’s Closing Arguments for the fourth day. After his submission Tribunal adjourned the proceedings of the case until 12 August 2013 and asked Defense to conclude the Closing Arguments on that day. Continue reading
5 August 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Qaisar Bail Application Granted
Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:
- Chief Prosecutor vs. Syed Mohammad Qaisar
Today Tribunal 2 granted bail to Mr Syed Mohammad Qaisar. This is only the second time either of the two Tribunals have granted bail to a suspect. Defendant Abdul Alim is also free on bail. All other suspects have been denied bail.
On 22 July 2013 the Tribunal had heard Qaisar’s bail application and instructed the jail authorities to submit a report on the availability of adequate health care facilities for the 73 year old war crimes suspect. Today the Tribunal announced that having reviewed the report it had reached the conclusion that the health of the detained suspect is such that he should be enlarged on bail, subject to strict adherence on his part to conditions imposed by the Tribunal. The following conditions apply to his bail:
- The suspect shall not communicate with any political leaders
- He shall refrain from making any comments to the media
- There shall be no form of intimidation of the potential witnesses of war crimes
- The suspect shall stay in his Banani residence and shall not go anywhere without prior permission of the tribunal
- He must cooperate with the investigation agencies
- A bail bond of Taka 1 Lac ( Taka 100,000) shall be submitted immediately on his behalf
The Tribunal warned that bail would be revoked if there was any violation of any of the conditions.
The Bangladesh Trial Observer 