Sayedee’s defence witness to testify Aug 28
Dhaka, Aug 14 (UNB) - Despite objection by the defence counsel for Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee, who faces trial on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Tuesday cut down the number of defence witnesses to 20 from 48 submitted earlier.
Passing the order, Justice M Nizamul Huq, chairman of the three-member tribunal, set August 28 for the testimony of the defence witnesses (DWs) for Sayedee, now in custody.
The tribunal passed the order as part of its judicial step after closing the cross-examination of the investigation officer by the defence counsel for Sayedee that continued for long 48 days.
Sayedee, nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaatie-Islami that opposed the Liberation War, was charged with crimes against humanity, including genocide, rape, arson attacks, loot, forcibly converting Hindus into Muslims during the war in collaboration with the Pakistani occupation forces.
According to the charges, Sayedee, a Razakar commander, who also helped recruit Razakars, an auxiliary force of Pakistan Army and invited army by establishing makeshift camps in Pirojpur for committing crimes against humanity.
On October 3 last year, the tribunal framed 20 counts of charges against Sayedee under section 3 (2) and its sub-sections of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973.
In the order the tribunal also asked the defence counsel for Sayedee to submit by August 23 the list of the 20 DWs with particulars.
Opposing the tribunal order, Tajul Islam, defence counsel for Sayedee, said the order trimming the DWs ‘tantamount to burying justice.’ The tribunal does not have any legal sanction in this regard under the updated International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, he contended.
Referring to the prosecution witnesses in the Sayedee case, Tajul told the tribunal that the prosecution had given evidence of 44 witnesses, including the investigation officer and absentee witnesses.
The tribunal assured the defence counsel of reconsidering the disputed matter after its order is carried out first. “You will not be prejudiced,” said the tribunal.
During the hearing on the matter, prosecutor Syed Haider Ali backed the tribunal’s decision and said the ICT Act empowers the tribunal to regulate its own procedure in dispensation of justice.
Passing the order, Justice M Nizamul Huq, chairman of the three-member tribunal, set August 28 for the testimony of the defence witnesses (DWs) for Sayedee, now in custody.
The tribunal passed the order as part of its judicial step after closing the cross-examination of the investigation officer by the defence counsel for Sayedee that continued for long 48 days.
Sayedee, nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaatie-Islami that opposed the Liberation War, was charged with crimes against humanity, including genocide, rape, arson attacks, loot, forcibly converting Hindus into Muslims during the war in collaboration with the Pakistani occupation forces.
According to the charges, Sayedee, a Razakar commander, who also helped recruit Razakars, an auxiliary force of Pakistan Army and invited army by establishing makeshift camps in Pirojpur for committing crimes against humanity.
On October 3 last year, the tribunal framed 20 counts of charges against Sayedee under section 3 (2) and its sub-sections of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973.
In the order the tribunal also asked the defence counsel for Sayedee to submit by August 23 the list of the 20 DWs with particulars.
Opposing the tribunal order, Tajul Islam, defence counsel for Sayedee, said the order trimming the DWs ‘tantamount to burying justice.’ The tribunal does not have any legal sanction in this regard under the updated International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, he contended.
Referring to the prosecution witnesses in the Sayedee case, Tajul told the tribunal that the prosecution had given evidence of 44 witnesses, including the investigation officer and absentee witnesses.
The tribunal assured the defence counsel of reconsidering the disputed matter after its order is carried out first. “You will not be prejudiced,” said the tribunal.
During the hearing on the matter, prosecutor Syed Haider Ali backed the tribunal’s decision and said the ICT Act empowers the tribunal to regulate its own procedure in dispensation of justice.
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