Verdict on Abdul Quader Molla anytime now

A verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami’s Assistant Secretary General Abdul Quader Molla is due anytime now after both his defence and prosecution completed their arguments in the war crimes tribunal on Thursday.

The second war crimes tribunal chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, after hearing arguments by the both parties, said the verdict would be given any day the court finds convenient.

This is the third case that awaits a verdict at the International Crime Tribunal-2, formed to try crimes against humanity committed during the War of Independence in 1971.

The two others awaiting a verdict are Jamaat leaders Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar and Delwar Hossain Sayedee.

The first war crimes tribunal, however, is hearing the argument in the Sayedee case once again following reconstitution of the tribunal after its chairman resigned.

Earlier on Jan 7, the ICT-2 rejected a re-trial application by Molla.

Molla's was one of the re-trial petitions filed after former ICT-1 chief Justice Nizamul Huq stepped down over the controversy involving an alleged conversation with a Brussels-based academic over Skype.

Several Jamaat leaders, facing trials on war crimes charges, filed petitions seeking fresh trials on the plea that the trial procedures had been compromised.

The tribunal on May 28 last year indicted Molla for six incidents of killing, mass murder, conspiracy and instigation during the nation's War of Independence in 1971. A total 12 witnesses have testified for the prosecution against six witnesses for the defence.

On Dec 17, 2007 a case was filed with Keraniganj police against a number of Jamaat leaders including Molla for killing one 'Mostofa' during the Liberation War. Another case was filed against him with the Pallabi police in 2008. Molla was arrested on July 13, 2010 in the second case.

The prosecution brought charges of crimes against humanity including murder, rape and arson in its probe report placed at the tribunal on Nov 1, 2011. The court took cognisance of the charges on Dec 28 the same year.

The report said the Jamaat leader operated in Mirpur and Mohammadpur areas of Dhaka during the war and started killing Bengalis from March 25 midnight of 1971.

Local Biharis assisted him in his killings. Molla, then known as 'Butcher of Bengalis' for his atrocities, took part in the genocide at Mirpur's Alokdi village, the report said.