The defence of war crimes suspect Matiur Rahman Nizami has ended cross examination of the 10th prosecution witness, who had studied at Boalmari Madrasa with the Jamaat-e-Islami chief.
After the cross-examination of Tofazzal Hossain Master yesterday, the International Crimes Tribunal 1, headed by ATM Fazle Kabir, adjourned the session till June 9.
Meanwhile, in the case against senior BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, the cross-examination of Investigation Officer Nurul Islam continued. After a half day session, the tribunal adjourned the proceedings till today.
In the morning session, defence counsel Mizanul Islam cross examined Tofazzal, who is a former teacher at Santhia Government Pilot School in Pabna. He placed his deposition on Sunday. He is the 10th prosecution witness against Nizami at the tribunal. In his deposition, he stated that during the 1971 Liberation War, the Jamaat leader had ordered the killing of unarmed villagers.
Tofazzal said the pilot school had been closed down and a razakar camp set up there around mid-May. “When the camp was opened, we saw Nizami, Abdus Sobhan and Maulana Ishaque along with 100 to 150 razakars.”
Nizami was indicted on May 28, last year on 16 counts of crimes against humanity. The charges against Nizami include genocide, rape, torture, abduction, confinement and conspiracy, which he allegedly committed in Pabna and Dhaka during the war.
In the case against Salauddin Quader, the IO was cross examined yesterday for two hours. Later, the tribunal adjourned the proceedings till today.
Earlier 39 more witnesses testified against the six-time BNP MP from Chittagong. The prosecution pressed 24 specific charges against him on November 14, 2011. On November 17, the tribunal set up to try crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War, took 23 charges into cognisance.
