Six war crimes cases on hold

Six sensational cases of war crimes including that of Ghulam Azam are 'stuck' at different stages of the International Crime Tribunal (ICT) and the Supreme Court's Appellate Division.

Two of them are awaiting verdicts from the ICT and the Appellate Division, while appeal hearings are yet start in case of four others.

According to the Supreme Court, it's entirely in the Chief Justice's jurisdiction to decide on listing the hearings.

Hearing of war crimes convict Delwar Hossain Sayedee ended four months ago, but the court kept the verdict pending.

But in case of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla, it took only two months after the hearings closed, to pronounce the verdict on his appeal.

Sayedee, whose trial began on Oct 3, 2011, was the first person to be prosecuted for war crimes while Molla's trial had begun in May, 2012.

Sayedee's verdict was given on Feb 28 last year and Molla's on Feb 5, though his trial started after Sayedee.

The first verdict of the ICT was against Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar. No appeal was filed as Azad is absconding.

Meanwhile, hearings on appeals filed by Jamaat leaders Ghulam Azam and Ali Ahsan Md Mujahid, BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and former minister Abdul Alim is yet to begin.

In July, 2013, Mujahid was sentenced to death by the ICT-2 while Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in jail. Both of them filed appeals the next month.

BNP leader SQ Chowdhury was sentenced to death on Oct 1 last year. His counsels filed an appeal the same month.

Former minister Alim filed an appeal against the ICT verdict in Nov last year.

'Chief Justice to decide'

Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam told bdnews24.com that only the Chief Justice can decide about when the hearings will be held and the priority for the cases.

"It is entirely his discretion. But lawyers can request him to hold hearings in cases they are involved. If the court wants then it can accept the plea and hold hearing," he said.

Asked about the 60 days deadline on appeal hearings, Islam said that the deadline is not a mandatory one. "It is only something one can suggest."