The war crimes tribunal rejected the review petition on charge framing against Jamaat-e-Islami leader AKM Yusuf, allegedly the founder of the razakar force that helped the Pakistani occupational army to commit atrocities in 1971, on Monday.
Rejecting the petition, the Tribunals of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and M Shahinur Islam said, “We are not inclined to entertain such a petition and the petition is instantly rejected.”
The tribunal also observed that the petition filed by Yusuf did not comply with the International Crimes Tribunal Act 1973 and its rules and procedures, since under the act an accused can enjoy filing a review petition if he or she files the petition within a week, if any charge is framed against him.
However, defence lawyer Saifur Rahman informed the tribunal that the tribunal office prepared the certified copy of indictment order on August 13 and defence counsels received it on August 18.
Prosecutor Rana Das Gupta opposed the application filed by the defence.
On August 1, the International Crimes Tribunal 2 indicted AKM Yusuf on 13-counts of charges including genocide, looting, arson attacks on Hindu houses, abduction, and torture in confinement during the Liberation War 1971.
On April 22, the tribunal’s probe agency submitted its report to the prosecution after an investigation into the alleged crimes of Yusuf, who hails from Rajair Kaliarpar under the Sarankhola upazila in Bagerhat.
The investigators claimed that the accused formed the razakar force on May 5, 1971, at an Ansar camp on Khan Jahan Ali Road in Khulna with 96 Jamaat activists. He also formed peace committees in every subdivision, police station and union in Khulna.
The case was transferred to tribunal 2 from tribunal 1 on July 1 for quick disposal.
The Jamaat leader is now in the Kashimpur prison. The tribunal on July 3 ordered jail authorities to provide comfortable transport for the accused.
He was arrested at his Dhanmondi residence in the capital on May 12.