The International Crimes Tribunal has again cautioned Tajul Islam, lawyer for war crimes suspect Abdul Alim; this time for his indecent attitude.
When Alim’s defence was quizzing the prosecution witness on Wednesday, Tajul was warned firstly by Judge Shahinur Islam, one of the members of tribunal 2, and then by its Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan.
Ahsanul Huq, senior counsel of Alim, was quizzing the prosecution’s 23rd witness, Abdul Hye. At that time, the lawyer suggested that the army never follows any order from a civilian.
Then Judge Shahinur asked the defence to specify whether he referred to the US Army or the Pakistani Army.
Tajul suddenly took the floor and told the tribunal: “There is no army in the world that follows any order from a civilian.” Judge Shahinur Islam then asked him to take his seat as he was a non-conducting counsel for the day.
The tribunal chairman also directed him to take seat and asked him to convey his suggestions to the conducting counsel, Ahsanul.
After that, Tajul asked whether they were allowed to say anything or not. The chairman replied: “You have to tell it through the conducting counsel; [now] just sit down.”
Judge Shahinur also asked him to take a seat.
But then Tajul did the worst thing. Pointing at Judge Shahinur, he told the chairman: “My lord, I am talking to you, and another one is stopping me.”
Judge Shahinur Islam took the word “another one” and asked: “What do you mean by another one?”
At the same time, Justice Hasan also asked the same question. He added: “The tribunal in the past took actions against you for your misconduct. Do not force us to do it again. You just sit down.”
But defying the tribunal's direction, Tajul kept standing.
At that time, Judge Shahinur said: “You better come here after learning decent attitude. Sit down or we will throw you out from the court room.”
Tajul then took his seat. On October 22 last year, the tribunal 1 issued a show cause notice upon Tajul for professional misconduct while performing as the defence counsel of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami.
While the matter was pending before the tribunal, the ICT 1 on November 5 witnessed another rowdy scene created by three defence lawyers including Tajul. The next day, the tribunal issued notices upon three defence counsels – Tajul, Mizanul Islam and Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin – to explain why action should not be taken against them for misconduct at the courtroom. The tribunal also barred Tajul from appearing in the proceedings till November 22 for his “high grade of contempt.”
Following this, the three counsels rendered unconditional apology.
