Proceedings of two cases – recording of testimony in the case against Mobarak Hossain and contempt charge against the Human Rights Watch – were deferred yesterday as the International Crimes Tribunal 1 is yet to get a new chairman.
Two other members of the tribunal 1 from their chamber set January 16 for placing a defence witness and January 27 to hear the contempt issue regarding the HRW’s remarks on Ghulam Azam case.
As January 14 is set for further proceedings in the case against Zahidul Islam alias Khokon Razakar, tribunal officials said they hoped to get a new chairman before that day.
Defence counsel Tajul Islam claimed that the tribunal members could not set any new date in this situation. “When there is no chairman, there is no tribunal. It should start its activities after appointing a chairman.”
On the other hand, Shahedur Rahman, conducting prosecutor in the case against Mobarak, said giving a date was not a matter of trial. “The tribunal members can exercise this power. If anyone opposes it, it will be wrong,” he claimed.
When contacted, State Minister for Law Quamrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are doing our job. We will fill the position within the shortest possible time, as I told you earlier.”
Previous chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir retired on December 31. The position has been vacant since then.
The delivery of verdict in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami is likely to be delayed more because of his retirement and indecision over holding another hearing of the closing arguments in the case.
Justice Kabir kept the case for judgement on November 13.
