Tag Archives: Ashrafuzzaman Khan

22 May 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Mujahid Closing Arguments, Alim PW 21, Pre-trial issues and contempt

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Contempt Proceedings Against Selim Uddin
  2. Syed Md Qaisar: Bail Application
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs. Md Ashruzzaman Khan and  Moinuddin
  4. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ali Ahsan Mohammed Mujahid – Defense Closing Arguments
  5. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim – Cross-Examination of PW 21

The Tribunal deferred the contempt proceedings against Selim Uddin until 28 May 2013 for further order. It then moved on to hear the bail application filed on behalf of Syed Md Qaisar who is currently under investigation for war crimes and related offences that may have been committed during the 1971 War of Liberation. Mr Qaisar, a former BNP leader and a subsequent policy maker of President HM Ershad’s cabinet was arrested on a warrant issued by Tribunal-2 on 15 May 2013. Upon hearing the bail application, the court took a brief recess of twenty minutes before finally rejecting the application. Mr Qaisar was then sent to jail.

The Prosecution team in the cases against Md Ashrafuzaman Khan alias Nayeb Ali and Moinuddin notified the Tribunal that they had followed its order and published a notification in two widely circulated national dailies asking the two defendants to appear before the Tribunal. The notice was published on 14 May 2013 in the Daily Janakantha and on 15 May in the Daily Star. The notification announced that failure to appear within 10 days of such publication would result in the court ordering trials-in-absentia, as was done in the case of Abul Kalam Azad. The Tribunal stated that they would hear the case next on  27 May 2013.

In the case of Mujahid the Defense began their Closing Arguments. They began with arguments regarding the evidentiary aspects of the case and stated that senior Defense counsel Abdur Razzak will be later address the relevant legal arguments.

Finally, the Defense counsel for Abdul Alim conducted the cross-examination of Prosecution witness 21. They primarily attacked the credibility of the witness and accused him of providing false testimony. The Defense further suggested that the witness provide the same testimony to the Investigation Officer during his original interview.  Continue reading →

12 May 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Mujahid Prosecution Closing Arguments, Moinuddin and Khan Pre-Trial

Due to a national hartal our researchers were unable to attend proceedings today. Our coverage is therefore gathered from media sources and conversations with the Prosecution and Defense.

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid
  2. Pre-trial of Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan

The Prosecution continued Closing Arguments in the Mujahid case. They began addressing the evidentiary aspects of the case and Charges 1 and 2.

Under Charge 1 Mujahid is accused of the abduction and subsequent murder of Mr Seraj Uddin Hossain, who was the then Executive Editor of the Daily Ittefaq. Mujahid is charged with abduction and murder as Crimes Against Humanity, under section 3(2)(a) of the ICT Act. Prosecution witness 4 testified in support of the charge. It is additionally alleged that Mr. Chowdhury Moinuddin and Mr Ashrafuzzaman Khan, who have recently been separately indicted, partnered with Mujahid, members of Al-Badr and the Pakistani Army in the commission of these crimes.

Charge 2 alleges that Mujahid commited persecution as a Crime Against Humanity and Genocide in conjunction with attacks committed in Baidyadangi, Majhidangi and Baladanga. He is charged under section 3(2)(a) and Section 3(2)(c) of the ICT Act. Prosecution witnesses 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 supported the allegations within Charge 2. It is alleged that Mujahid committed the alleged crimes with the assistance and participation of Abul Kalam Azad, Hammad Maolana, Gofur Rajakar, Jahangir Razakar, Kalu Bihari and other members of the Pakistani Army, the Razakars, Al-Badr, the Peace Committee and members of the Bihari community.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Chowdhury Moinuddin and Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan
The Tribunal also addressed the cases against Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan. The Police submitted an official report stating that they had been unable to arrest the accused because they are out of country, Moinuddin residing in the United Kingdom and Ashrafuzzaman in the United States. The Tribunal then issued an order to the Office of the Registrar requesting them to publish an advertisement in two widely circulated national dailies asking the two Accused to appear before the Tribunal within 10 days of its publication, failing which a trial-in-absentia will be conducted.

Administrative Issues:
Brussels based legal expert Ahmed Ziauddin who allegedly conducted inappropriate Skype conversations regarding the proceedings with the former Chairman of Tribunal 1, submitted his response to contempt proceedings against him in compliance with the Tribunal 2’s order of 3 January 2013. The submission was received by the Registrar of the ICT through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The matter will soon appear in the Daily Cause List of the Tribunal for further order.

28 April 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Charge Framing Order to be Issued Against Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan

The Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Chowdhury Moinuddin – Scheduling of Charge Framing Order
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Ashrafuzzaman Khan – Scheduling of Charge Framing Order

 Tribunal 2 was briefly in session today. They scheduled Thursday, 2 May 2013, for issuing the Charge Framing Orders against Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan. Both are charged with the killing of Bangladeshi intellectuals during the eve of Bangladesh’s victory on 16 December 1971. The Prosecution submitted the proposed Formal Charge to the Tribunal on 25 April 2013. The 16 Charges allege the Accused killed at least 18 intellectuals between 10 December and 15 December 1971, amounting to Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity.

AIJI is in the process of obtaining copies of the Charge Framing Orders and will post them on our website once they are available.

25 April 2013: ICT-2 Daily Summary – Alim Cross-Examination PW 17

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Abdul Alim – Prosecution Witness 17
  2. Submission of Formal Charges against Chowdhury Moinuddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan

The case against Abdul Alim was the lone case scheduled in Tribunal 2 for today. Defense counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena very briefly cross-examined Mr Abdus Sobhan Sardar who gave testimony against the accused as Prosecution witness 17.

Additionally, the Prosecution submitted Formal Charges and related documents against Mr. Chowdhury Moinuddin and Mr. Ashrafuzzaman Khan. 16 charges have been proposed by the Prosecution against these two new accused, both of whom live outside of Bangladesh.

The Defense suggested did not attempt to discredit the witness’ prior testimony in a targeted manner. They alleged that the Abdul Alim never went to Akkelpur during in 1971. Despite the Defense’s suggestions the witness affirmed his statement that the Razakars said that detainees could be released only with permission from Alim. The witness said that Alim gave a short speech in Akkelpur in Suleman Kabiraz’s Mill ghor. He said that the Accused warned those present that their land was part of Pakistan and that agents from India would not be tolerated.

After this brief examination the court adjourned for the day.