Ghulam Azam denied bail

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 Tuesday rejected the bail plea of former Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam charged for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War of 1971.

The three-member tribunal led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir issued the order.

The tribunal in its order said the defence could not come up with any new argument to convince the court that Ghulam Azam must be granted bail.

Besides, the tribunal felt that there was no reason to grant him bail as the trial had already reached final stages.

The ICT-1, however, directed the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) authorities to provide proper treatment to Ghulam Azam.

Ghulam Azam’s counsel Advocate Tajul Islam Feb 20 filed a bail petition so that the family members of the accused could look after him, since he has been suffering from various old-age complications.

The tribunal held a hearing on the plea the same day and set Tuesday to pass the order.

During the argument Feb 20, Public Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud argued that there was no guarantee whether Ghulam Azam would get well after returning home from the BSMMU, where he had been undergoing treatment.

The 90-year-old Jamaat leader was arrested Jan 11, 2012 and indicted on five counts for crimes against humanity May 13 last year.