The first prosecution witness against ATM Azharul Islam placed her deposition in camera, that is, in a closed room, at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 yesterday.
Prosecution said it had submitted her as a witness of charge five. After her deposition, defence ended their cross examination. Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, the new counsel for Azhar, cross examined her.
The prosecution pleaded for an in camera deposition as the witness was a rape victim of the war.
Tribunal framed charges against Azhar on November 12. Two charges are related with genocide. The charge number three accuses Azhar of involvement in the killing of at least 15 unarmed civilians at Dhappar in Badarganj on April 16, 1971 and the genocide at JharuaBeel in the same area on April 17 where at least 1,200 people were killed.
Other charges include Azhar’s involvement in abduction and murder of AY Mahfuz Ali and 11 others, killing of four lecturers of Carmichael College and their family members. He is also charged with involvement in rape and torture on women imprisoned in RangpurTown Hall during March 25-December 16,1971.
Meanwhile, Rezaul Karim,the defence lawyer for war crimes accused former Jatiya Party state minister Syed Md Qaisar said his client neither formed nor led any anti-liberation group during the 1971 Liberation War., He sought discharge for Qaisar before ICT2.
He said his client had faced a case under the Collaborators Act after the Liberation War but was acquitted. However, Karim could not place any certified copy of the order that had acquitted Qaisar. He told the court the defence acquire a copy of the order soon.
Karim argued that the prosecution had accused Qaisar but could not produce any evidence to support the case. He also saidthe prosecution had failed to prove that Qaisarhad formed a group or force named “QaisarBahini” comprising of 500-600 anti-liberation people.
Later, he sought an adjournment of the hearing saying senior defence counsel MdAbdusSobhanTarafdar would place the remaining part of the arguments to prove the innocence of his client. The tribunal then set the date for the next hearing on December 31.
The prosecution on December 17 pleaded for indicting Qaisar on 18 counts of crimes against humanity in Habiganj during 1971.