The defence counsels in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami Monday ended cross examination of the 20th prosecution witness.
Tahurul Alam Mollah in his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 on Sunday described how his father, who had taken shelter at a mosque in Pabna’s Ishwardi, was killed on Nizami’s order during the 1971 Liberation War.
The prosecution did not place any new witness and sought time. After quizzing Tahurul, the defence too pleaded for time. The tribunal then adjourned the proceedings till today.
Defence counsel Mizanul Islam questioned the witness about the murder of his father and asked whether he had seen the body. Tahurul said when he had returned from India after finishing the training, the imam of the mosque told him the very next day of the killing on April 17, 1971, a truck came and took away the body from the spot. He also said he had not filed any case against Nizami.
After the adjournment order, the tribunal wanted to know the name of the next witness and the relevant charge. Prosecutor Mohammad Ali said they would place Yusuf Ali Bishwas, but did not agree to tell about the charge.
The tribunal then said: “If the prosecution is not ready to disclose the relevant charges, then we will stop taking prosecution witness.”
On Sunday too, the prosecution could not explain why the witness accounts did not match with charge no 5. There are 107 prosecution witnesses in the case.
Nizami was indicted on May 28 last year on 16 counts of crimes against humanity he allegedly committed in Pabna and Dhaka during the war.