The International Crimes Tribunal has given the defence of alleged al-Badr commander ATM Azharul Islam scope to take part in the hearing on a review petition they had filed against indictment.
The tribunal yesterday was irked as the defence counsels had repeatedly been absent during the blockade days on ground of “personal difficulties.”
As Abdur Razzak, senior defence counsel for the Jamaat leader, did not attend the proceedings, the three-member tribunal set tomorrow for the hearing and recording testimony of three witnesses in camera.
Azhar was indicted on November 12 for his involvement in crimes against humanity in Rangpur during the 1971 Liberation War.
Yesterday was also fixed for hearing on the contempt issue against Human Rights Watch, a New York-based rights group. Asaduzzaman, counsel for the HRW, came up with an adjournment petition seeking four weeks time and some documents from the prosecution.
Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum told the tribunal that they would give the defence the papers immediately. Then the tribunal fixed January 7 for reply on the contempt notice.
The same tribunal yesterday deferred until December 29 the date of pronouncing order on the contempt notice issued against two journalists of London-based weekly The Economist.
