The International Crimes Tribunal 2 refers the review petition on indictment order against alleged al-Badr leader Mir Kashem Ali to the tribunal 1 for disposal.
The case was with the tribunal 1 from the beginning. After passing the indictment order on September 30, the case was transferred to tribunal 2 for speedy disposal. The tribunal 1 made the change on its own motion since the other tribunal was comparatively less burdened with cases.
But before that, the defence had submitted a petition seeking review of the indictment order. On Thursday was fixed for opening statement by the prosecution and placing of witness.
But on October 27, defence counsels informed the tribunal about the review petition and sought disposal on the matter. The defence said the tribunal 2 could hear the petition while the prosecution said as per the law, this matter should be disposed of at the tribunal 1 as it had indicted Mir Kashem.
Mir Kashem was indicted on August 29 on 14 counts of crimes against humanity he had allegedly committed in Chittagong during the 1971 Liberation War.
Meanwhile on Thursday, the defence of alleged razakar founder and Jamaat leader AKM Yusuf cross examined prosecution’s third witness AKM Shamsul Alam. Later the tribunal set Sunday for the next witness.
According to the prosecution, the accused had formed peace committees in every sub-division, police station and union in Khulna. He established the razakar force on May 5, 1971 at an Ansar camp on Khan Jahan Ali Road in Khulna.