War crimes: Mujahid’s trial begins
Dhaka, July 19 (UNB) -The trial of Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid started on Thursday with the opening statement by the prosecution before the International Criminal Tribunal-2.
After closing the opening statement, the ICT-2 set August 26 for recording the testimony of the prosecution witnesses.
Passing the order, the tribunal asked the prosecution to submit the list of its witnesses and relevant documents by the time.
Accused Mujahid was produced in the dock before the tribunal began its proceedings.
Earlier, the defence counsel prayed for three months’ time for the preparation of the case, a plea opposed by the prosecution.
After hearing both the sides, the tribunal gave the defence counsel over five weeks for their preparation.
On June 21, the ICT-2 indicted Mujahid for his ‘involvement’ in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The charges against him include planning, incitement, complicity, murder, arson, loot and conspiracy in killing intellectuals, cultural personalities and teachers and persecution in confinement.
According to prosecution, Mujahid, the then chief of Al Badr, a secret killing squad of Jamaat-e-Islami, at the fag end of the Liberation War had masterminded exterminating the intellectuals and executed his plan by the members of his squad.
Mujahid was behind the abduction of noted journalist Sirajuddin Hossain, the then executive editor of the daily Ittefaq, by his sidekicks from his rented house at Chamelibagh, noted music composer Altaf Mahmud from Outer Circular Road in the capital and others.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel cross-examined the prosecution witness Hamidul Huq, a freedom fighter, by the defence counsel for accused Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general M Kamaruzzaman who was present in the dock.
After closing the opening statement, the ICT-2 set August 26 for recording the testimony of the prosecution witnesses.
Passing the order, the tribunal asked the prosecution to submit the list of its witnesses and relevant documents by the time.
Accused Mujahid was produced in the dock before the tribunal began its proceedings.
Earlier, the defence counsel prayed for three months’ time for the preparation of the case, a plea opposed by the prosecution.
After hearing both the sides, the tribunal gave the defence counsel over five weeks for their preparation.
On June 21, the ICT-2 indicted Mujahid for his ‘involvement’ in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The charges against him include planning, incitement, complicity, murder, arson, loot and conspiracy in killing intellectuals, cultural personalities and teachers and persecution in confinement.
According to prosecution, Mujahid, the then chief of Al Badr, a secret killing squad of Jamaat-e-Islami, at the fag end of the Liberation War had masterminded exterminating the intellectuals and executed his plan by the members of his squad.
Mujahid was behind the abduction of noted journalist Sirajuddin Hossain, the then executive editor of the daily Ittefaq, by his sidekicks from his rented house at Chamelibagh, noted music composer Altaf Mahmud from Outer Circular Road in the capital and others.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel cross-examined the prosecution witness Hamidul Huq, a freedom fighter, by the defence counsel for accused Jamaat-e-Islami assistant secretary general M Kamaruzzaman who was present in the dock.
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