Tag Archives: Sayedee

17 Jan 2013: ICT 1 Daily Summary – Sayedee Prosecution Closing Arguments

The Tribunal heard the following case:

Chief Prosecutor vs. Delwar Hossein Sayedee

On behalf of the Prosecution, Haider Ali submitted the Prosecution’s final arguments, addressing Charges 17-19.

Haider Ali began by reading out the  Daily Jonokontho dated 5 March 2001 (Ext-08) regarding incident at Sajuddin Poshari and the killing of Fayzur Rahman (charge 5) and Aziz; the looting of shops in Bipod Shaha, Modon Shaha and Makhon Shaha; and general allegations of looting, burning houses, torturing people, forced conversion of Hindus, and killing of Hindus. He read out Exhibit -48,  the Daily Azad , dated 3 February 1972 relating to Charge 18. He read out Exhibit-12, the Daily Shamakal, and  Exhibit-46, a newspaper dated 17 July 2010; as well as Exhibit  47 dated 14 April 2001.

He then focused on the individual charges and the prosecution’s evidence in support of each one. Continue reading →

16 Jan 2013: ICT 1 Daily Summary – Sayedee and Golam Azam

NOTE TO THE READER: Today opposition parties called a hartal (strike) for half the day. AIJI’s researcher was unable to attend the proceedings because of the strike. (transport to and from court becomes quite dangerous during such strikes) These notes regarding the proceedings for today were compiled through other persons present at the tribunal including the Defense team and journalist coverage. The prosecution team was also asked to verify their accuracy but did not respond before publication The WCSC has done its best to insure the neutrality of the notes from today but cannot guarantee their accuracy. Please bring any discrepancies to our attention.

The Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs. Delwar Hossain Sayedee – Prosecution Closing Arguments
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Sayedee, Golam Azam, and Nizami – Hearing of Application for Review of Order Denying Retrial

Due to the half day hartal a junior member for the Defense requested adjournment until 2pm. The Tribunal granted his request and convened for the afternoon session.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Sayedee, Golam Azam, and Nizami
Yesterday, January 15, 2013 the hearing of the Review application began in the cases of Sayedee, Golam Azam and Nizami. Defense counsel Abdur Razzaq completed his arguments on behalf of the Accused.

Today Haider Ali gave a reply on behalf of the prosecution. He raised an objection regarding the Defense referring to the Order rejecting the retrial application as a ‘impugned order’ in their petition. He submitted that the Defense’s challenge of the usage of  the term ‘alleged’ in reference to the skype conversations between the former chairman and Ziauddin was also objectionable. He submitted that as the Defense introduced the skype and e-mail communications, the burden was on them to prove their contents. He argued that the existence of the conversations is established but not their content. Continue reading →

14 Jan 2013: ICT 1 Daily Summary – Sayedee, Chowdhury, Gholam Azam

Today the Tribunal heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs Delwar Hossain Sayedee: Response to Yesterday’s Applications (Accused Present in Court)
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs Salauddin Quader Chowdhury: Contempt Proceedings against Defense Counsel, Hearing of Application for Removal of Prosecutor (Accused Present in Court)
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs Golam Azam: Defence Case-in-Chief  (Accused Not Present)

In the Sayedee case the Tribunal rejected the six applications filed by the Defense yesterday, January 13. The Tribunal stated that it had already given orders pertaining to the issues raised and that it would be redundant to deal with them again.

In the Chowdhury case, the court issued an order to show cause for contempt against Defense counsel Fakhrul Islam. The Tribunal also rejected an application from Defense counsel Ahsanul Huq Hena requesting the adjournment of the tribunal until the contempt proceedings against foreign lawyer Dr. Ziauddin (implicated in the Skype controversy) had been disposed of.

The Tribunal heard joint arguments from the defense for Chowdhury and Golam Azam in favor of their application to remove lead Prosecutor Zead al-Malum.

The Tribunal then heard arguments from the Golam Azam Defense team in favor of their application to allow the skype conversations and emails between the former Chairman Nizamul Hoque and foreign lawyer Dr. Ahmed Ziauddin to be exhibited before the court.

for more detail, continue reading Continue reading →

13 Jan 2013: ICT 1Daily Summary – Golam Azam, Nizami, Sayedee

Today ICT 1 heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Chief Prosecutor vs Golam Azam– Application for Review (Accused Not Present)
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs. Motiur Rahman Nizami – Application for Review (Accused Not Present)
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs Delwar Hossain Sayedee – Application for Review, Contempt Proceedings, Prosecution Closing Arguments (Accused Present)

Defense counsel for  of Golam Azam, Nizami and Sayedee filed applications for Review of the January 3, 2013 order denying retrial. Senior Defense lawyer Razzaq requested that the tribunal halt proceedings until the Review applications have been addressed by the court. Prosecutor Haider Ali argued that the tribunal should reject the applications summarily.

The Chairman of Tribunal-1 stated that the trials would continue as the court considered the Review applications. Razzaq then argued that in the interest of justice the Tribunal should hear the Review application before hearing the summing up of arguments in Sayedee’s case. This request was rejected and the Prosecution began their closing arguments as scheduled for that case.

Continue reading →

10 Jan 2013: ICT 1 Daily Summary

Today ICT 1 heard matters in the following cases:

  1. Contempt Proceedings – against Defense counsel Tajul Islam
  2. Chief Prosecutor vs Salauddin Quader Chowdhury – Prosecution Case-in-Chief
  3. Chief Prosecutor vs Motiur Rahman Nizami – Defense Case-in-Chief
  4. Chief Prosecutor vs Delwar Hossain Sayedee – Contempt Proceedings brought by Defense against ATN News and BTV
  5. Chief Prosecutor vs Golam Azam – Defense Case-in-Chief

None of the Accused were present in the courtroom today.

Contempt Proceedings
On October 22, 2012 the court began contempt proceedings against Defense Counsel Tajul Islam and  barred him from entering into ICT 1. The Tribunal had also served show-cause notices against Defense counsel Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin and Mizanul Islam on November 6. On November 23, 2012 the former law minister and BNP leader, Moudud Ahmed, offered an unqualified apology on behalf of Tajul Islam and the other defense counsel and begged forgiveness of the court. On November 23, 2012 the Tribunal scheduled January 10 for passing its order on the matter and lifted the bar against Tajul Islam appearing in Tribunal 1, but still barred him from presenting submissions before the Tribunal. Today (January 10, 2013) Tribunal-1 rescheduled January 15, 2013 for passing the order.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Salauddin Qader Chowdhury
Today, Ahsanul Huq Hena, Defense counsel for Salauddin Qader Chowdhury sought adjournment and Tribunal allowed the prayer and adjourned the case till January 14, 2013.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Motiur Rahman Nizami
Mizanul Islam, Defense Counsel of Nizami sought adjournment for today (January 10, 2013) as Nizami was absent from the Tibunal. Mizanul Islam said before the Tribunal that yesterday (January 9, 2013) was fixed for Motiur Rahman Nizami’s case. Prosecutor Iqbal Hossain submitted that there was a common understanding that the case would continue even if Nizami was absent. The Tribunal adjourned the case until January 20, 2013.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Delwar Hossain Sayedee
Today was fixed for hearing proceedings filed by Defense Counsel of Delwar Hossain Sayedee against ATN News and BTV. Tanvir Ahmed Al-Amin submitted before the Tribunal that when Tribunal fixed the date for the resubmission of closing arguments ATN News broadcast interviews of the prosecution witnesses. The Defense alleged that in this programme Sayedee was described by the host as a criminal and war criminal, despite the fact that  Saydee has pled not guilty and has not been convicted of any crime up to this point.  Relying on section 11(4) of the ICT Act 1973, the Defense sought an order against the media agencies. The Defense argued that these programs prejudiced the Defense case.

Justice Jahangir Hossain interjected that the Tribunal will give judgment on the basis of the merits of the case alone and will not rely on any TV interview or program. The Defense further submitted that BTV also broadcast a similar program. In support of this application Defence submitted a CD and requested that the Tribunal watch the footage of the shows. The tribunal fixed January 14, 2013 for issuing an order.

Chief Prosecutor vs. Professor Golam Azam
Defense Counsel for Golam Azam also filed an application seeking the disqualification of Chief Prosecutor Zead-al-Malum. The Defense requested that the Tribunal hear this application along with a similar application being made in Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s case. The Defense counsel for Chowdhury filed an application on December 19, 2012 for the removal of the Prosecutor Zead-al-Malum. These applications are based on references to Zead-al-Malum made in the Skype conversations between former Chairman Nizamul Hoque and foreign legal expert Ahmed Ziauddin. The Defense claims that these conversations show collusion between the Prosecution and the judges. The Tribunal fixed January 14, for the hearing of these applications.

Outside the Courtroom
Today, Chairman ATM Fazle Kabir returned from leave and was present at the Tribunal. At one point the Tribunal was informed that Sayedee was experiencing chest pains (He was present in the building but not in the courtroom). Defense Counsel sought the Tribunal’s permission for Sayedee to leave the Tribunal premises and return to custody. Tribunal granted the request.