Kamaruzzaman's Trial for War Crimes
Tribunal rebukes defence for absence during hartals
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday warned defence counsels of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Muhammad Kamaruzzaman that it would close the cross-examination of a prosecution witness if the defence remains absent during future hartals.
Only one junior member of Kamaruzzaman's defence team was present yesterday, fixed for recording the cross-examination of Abdur Razzaque Khan, the 18th prosecution witness and investigation officer of the case for the third day.
It was the only case in the day's cause list.
When court proceedings started at 10:50am, prosecutor AKM Saiful Islam, Razzaque, defence counsel Shazzad Ali Chowdhury and some journalists were present while Kamaruzzaman was also brought in.
Shazzad then sought an adjournment, stating that senior counsels could not appear for “unavoidable circumstancesâ€. “A lot of vehicles are plying the city. Why could they not appear?†asked the tribunal.
Replying to a question, Shazzad said Kafil Uddin Chowdhury, who usually cross-examines prosecution witnesses, was not in Dhaka.
On February 14, the tribunal wanted to fix Sunday for recording the cross-examination but Monday was fixed upon Kafil's plea.
“If you do not come at your own will, we have nothing to do. No further chances will be given to you. You have to come whether there is hartal or not.
“If you do not come for hartal, we will not allow you further adjournment. We will stop the cross-examination,†said the tribunal.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan with member Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Judge M Shahinur Islam then adjourned the case proceedings till today.
On several occasions, the tribunals adjourned proceedings on hartal days as senior defence lawyers usually do not appear citing security reasons.
But for the first time on Wednesday, when no hartal was declared, the tribunals had to adjourn proceedings as some defence counsels did not show up citing security reasons after Jamaat-Shibir unleashed terror in the capital that morning.
Meanwhile, the prosecution yesterday submitted a petition seeking the tribunal's direction for limiting the defence witness list, numbering 1,354, to defend Kamaruzzaman.
The tribunal is expected to hear the petition today, said Saiful Islam.
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