Ghulam Azam lands in jail

The tribunal asks prosecution to submit all documents by Thursday while Feb 15 is the date for beginning the indictment hearing against the political guru of Jamaat-e-Islami

Dhaka, Jan 11 (bdnews24.com) –Jamaat-e-Islami guru and former chief Ghulam Azam facing charges of crimes against humanity landed in jail, pending legal procedures, after the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) rejected his bail plea and asked authorities to put him behind bars on Wednesday.

Azam is being deitaned at the Dhaka Central Jail as per the order issued on Wednesday morning after he appeared in court in line with a previous directive.

Rejecting his bail plea, the three-judge panel ordered the prosecution to submit all documents and a list of witnesses by Thursday.

Azam's defence will collect them by Sunday.

Justice Nizamul Huq-led tribunal set Feb 15 for the hearing on framing of charges against him.

When defence counsel Abdur Razzaq requested for division in jail, the tribunal declined and asked him to file an application with the jail authorities.

After the hearing, he has been taken to a prison van, which immediately started for jail amid tight security.

The tribunal on Monday took prosecution charges of crimes against humanity against Azam into cognisance and asked his lawyer to produce him before the tribunal on Wednesday. In case of failure, the tribunal had said an arrest warrant would be issued.

He had filed a bail petition on Tuesday, citing old age and health complications.

Azam entered the tribunal with some lawyers after 10am. He was taken inside on a wheel chair.

Meanwhile, various groups gathered on the tribunal premises with placards and festoons demanding trial of Azam on Wednesday.

Extra police were deployed to ensure security.

On Dec 12, the prosecution brought a 52-point charter of charges against Azam and appealed for his arrest. Later, following the tribunal order, charges were re-arranged and presented to the tribunal on Jan 5.

Azam had allegedly lead the infamous, 'Peace Committees' and collaborated with the Pakistan Army.

He also reportedly advocated in Pakistan's support in the Middle Eastern countries during the war.

He stayed in London for seven years after 1971 and came back to Bangladesh during the rule of Ziaur Rahman in 1978. He led Jamaat as its Ameer until 2000.

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