DHAKA: The deposition of Bir Bikram Mahbub Uddin Ahmed, second prosecution witnesses, in war crimes related case against former Jamaat Ameer Ghulam Azam at International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) adjourned till Wednesday.
ICT led by Justice Nizamul Haque passed the adjournment order Sunday.
Lawyer of the defendants Mizanul Islam took the deposition at the three-member ICT-1 led by Justice Nizamul Haque on Sunday.
The witness was the first guard of honor payer to the Mujibnagar government.
On July 1, in his deposition Muntasir Mamun said of the then politicians, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Ghulam Azam, played the key role in assisting the Pakistani army to commit genocide in the country during 1971 liberation war.
He said, “We could achieve our independence much earlier if they did not work for Pakistani army. Ghulam Azam and Nurul Amin worked as the main associates of the killer force during war time. They advised to form the peace committee.”
“Ghulam Azam introduced the Rajakar Bahini during the liberation war. Later, the Pakistani government passed an act in this regard. On the other hand, Jamaat Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami led the Al Badar Bahini,” he added.
The historian said, “The Pakistani army conducted mass killing and lotting operations across the country during the nine months of the war. They raped hundreds of Bangladeshi women. Ghulam Azam led those operations. Newspaper’s reports proved the fact.”
On June 18, ICT-1 has rejected the review and case transfer pleas of Ghulam Azam.
On June 7 of this year, state prosecutions concluded their argument in ICT-1 in review plea hearing of former Jamaat Ameer Ghulam Azam.
On May 13, 2012, the ICT-1 framed charges against him.
On December 12 of last year, formal charges of ‘crime against humanity’ were submitted against Ghulam Azam for his role during the Liberation War and appealed for issuing arrest warrant against him.
A total of 52 allegations were complied in the charge book against Azam, who was Ameer of the erstwhile East Pakistan chapter of the Islamic party that sided with the Pakistan government during the liberation war.
As per the allegations, the prosecutor petitioned the tribunal for issuing arrest warrant against Ghulam Azam.
On December 13, the ICT fixed December 26 to give order on taking into cognizance the formal charges of ‘crime against humanity’ against Ghulam Azam in response to an appeal by Jamaat lawyer Barrister Abdur Razzak.
On November 1, the probe report against the Jamaat-e-Islami leader was submitted to the prosecution panel of the tribunal in connection with their alleged wartime crimes against humanity.
BDST: 1915 HRS, JUL 29, 2012
Edited by: Kaiser Ahmed, Newsroom Editor/ M. Mahbub Alam, Asst Output Editor
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