The war crimes tribunal on Sunday asked the prosecution to start placing their closing arguments today in the case against alleged al-Badr leaders Chowdhury Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan.
The International Crimes Tribunal 2 set the date after state appointed defence counsel Salma Hye Tuni and Abdus Shukur Khan submitted that they had not found any witnesses in favour of their clients who are fugitive till date.
So far, the prosecution placed 25 witnesses against the duo. The tribunal appointed the defence lawyers on May 27.
The tribunal of Justice Obaidul Hasan, Justice Mojibur Rahman Miah and Justice Shahinur Islam also asked the defence to be prepared on September 26 for placing closing arguments.
Earlier, defence counsel Salma cross examined Ataur Rahman, the 25th prosecution witness and also investigation officer in the case against
Mueen.
According to the prosecution, Mueen and Ashraf had been active leaders of the al-Badr, formed in 1971 with the activists of Islami Chhatra Sangha, then student wing if Jamaat-e-Islami. The militia force assisted the Pakistani occupation army in killing the leading intellectuals of the country.
Now residing in London and New York, Mueen and Ashraf were indicted jointly on 11 counts of crimes against humanity that includes killings of 18 intellectuals including Shahidullah Kaiser and Selina Parvin between December 11 and December 15, 1971.
On May 11, the tribunal ordered a public announcement in the newspapers, in accordance with the rules of procedure of the Act, asking the war crimes suspects to appear before the tribunal within 10 days of the publication. Following the order, notices were published in the national dailies on May 12, asking the duo to appear in the court.
The rules of procedure of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 provides for trial in absentia, if the accused fail to appear before the tribunal within the designated time frame.
On April 25, the prosecution submitted formal charges against them. The prosecution brought 16 charges against the two under section 3(2) of the Act, which deals with crimes against humanity and peace, genocide, killing members of the group and rape.
Meanwhile, at the tribunal 1, defence counsel Mizanul Islam cross examined 23rd prosecution witness Syed Salma Mahmud alias Salma Huq in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami