Tribunal starts reading Nizami’s verdict

The International Crimes Tribunal – 1 has started reading a summary of Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami’s 204-page verdict.

Presiding judge Justice M Enayetur Rahim began with preliminary remarks before handing over to Justice Anwarul Haque to read through the introduction.

He will be followed by Justice Jahangir Hossain, who will read the observations of the court. Tribunal Chairman Justice Enayetur Rahim is expected to read out the judgment and sentencing at the end.

The former head of vigilante militia group Al-Badr, Nizami was brought to the courtroom around 11am. The three judges arrived soon after and Justice Rahim set off the proceedings.

Earlier bdnews24.com's Kamal Hossain Talukder reported that Nizami had reached the ICT premises around 9:19am.

A prison van carrying him left the Dhaka Central Jail at 9:08am, said Chawkbazaar Police Station OC Azizur Rahman.

The war crimes accused was brought to Dhaka from Gazipur's Kahsimpur Central Jail Tuesday night.

Another correspondent Suliman Niloy said Nizami sat forlorn in the court’s lockup cell.

With his trademark Jinnah cap, clad in a white kurta and brown vest over it, Nizami looked about blankly in a sharp contrast to the powerful minister he used to be.

Meanwhile, law enforcers are on a strict vigil to thwart any kind of untoward incidents over the verdict.

Additional RAB and police personnel have been deployed in and around the tribunal, situated at the old High Court premises. Everyone including members of the press has to go through a search by law enforces before entering the tribunal.

Breaking away from its usual trend, the Jamaat-e-Islami has not called for shutdown, which so far been the case for each verdict day of top Jamaat leaders charged with war crimes.

State minister for home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters Wednesday that they have braced for heightened security measures across Bangladesh and all necessary action will be taken to contain the situation.