ICT grants 3 Jamaat leaders more time

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Tuesday granted more time to the three leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami to appear before court and explain their statements on a sub-judice matter.

Staff CorrespondentStaff correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 26 Feb 2013, 09:23 AM
Updated : 26 Feb 2013, 09:23 AM

It gave them the last chance to appear following pleas from their lawyers.

The three Jamaat leaders are – Acting Secretary General Rafiqul Islam Khan, Member of the Central Executive Committee Hamidur Rahman Azad MP and Assistant Secretary Seneral for Dhaka Metropolitan area Mohammad Selim Uddin.

They have been asked to appear before the tribunal on Mar 3. The prosecution has already pleaded for their arrest warrants if they fail to turn up.

“Legal action will be taken against them if they don’t appear before the tribunal on Mar 3,” Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta said.

When asked about possible action against them the prosecutor said, “We have asked for arrest warrants to be issued, but we cannot say what the tribunal will decide”.

The International Crimes Tribunal -2 headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan granted the Jamaat leaders the last opportunity to appear before it after their lawyers requested for more time on their behalf.

Former Attorney General Golam Muhammad Chowdhury Alal and Mohammad Shahadat Hossain also requested that the three leaders be exempted from having to provide attendance in person.

When asked about the reason behind the need for more time their lawyers said, they did not have a ‘favourable’ environment to be present.

They have violated the Tribunal laws, prosecutor Rana Dasgupta said. Let there be warrants issued for their arrests.

The defence lawyers then stood up and requested that they be given a last chance.

Earlier on Feb 20 the tribunal granted them time until Feb 26 after hearing pleas for its extension.

On Feb 7 it issued a notice asking why the three Jamaat leaders would not be penalized for contempt of court.

On Feb 4, Selim Uddin speaking at a Jamaat rally in the capital’s Motijheel area said, “This will not end with a verdict. The verdict will bring plenty of reactions. The matter should not be viewed lightly. The controversial tribunal cannot deliver a verdict if it wants to avoid a civil war in the country.”

Another Jamaat leader Hamidur Rahman Azad MP had said, “This tribunal should not go on any further.”

The tribunal issued its order after taking into cognizance the news published in the national dailies about the comments made by the Jamaat leaders.

That apart, Rafiqul Islam released a statement on the tribunal at a press brief on Feb 5. He was summoned after the Tribunal took his statement into cognizance.

Earlier, Home Minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir was asked to provide an explanation for making comments on matters pending before the tribunal.

The ICT formed to try war crimes committed during the Liberation War of 1971, had also issued show-cause notices to Minister without portfolio Suranjit Sengupta and BNP leader MK Anwar citing contempt of court.