ICT probe finds involvement of Quader, 44 others in July crimes against humanity
During the hearing, former law minister Anisul Huq drew the court's attention from the dock, saying they are not getting any documents like FIR or copy of allegations
The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has said the primary involvement of 45 accused, including Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, former law minister Anisul Huq and former shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, in crimes against humanity committed during July-August mass uprising, has already been proved.
"The tribunal issued arrest warrant against 45 accused. Of those, 17 have been arrested and produced before the court today. Their primary involvement has already been proved," said ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam while pleading for three months' time to file probe report in the case.
"Around 1,500 people were killed. More than 25,000 have been wounded. We have received more than 1000 video footages of the crimes. We have to scrutinise the whole pile of evidences. So, we need more time to file the probe report," he added.
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Allowing the prosecution plea, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the three-judge panel of the tribunal, set 20 July for submitting probe report in the case.
The 17 accused - Anisul Huq, Amir Hossain Amu, Shahjahan Khan, Qamrul Islam, Lt Col (Retd) Mohammad Faruk Khan, Abdur Razzaque, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Dipu Moni, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Salman F Rahman, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, Jahangir Alam, Solaiman Salim, Abdullah Al-Mamun and Major General (sacked) Ziaul Ahsan were produced before the court for today's hearing.
Accused Anisul Huq, during the hearing, drew the court's attention from the dock, saying they are not getting any documents like FIR or copy of allegations.
"As a defendant, it is my right to get the documents so that I can defend myself properly. We do not want anything more than what the law permits. Apart from these, as some amendments have been brought to ICT Act of 1973, those amendments should be furnished to us," he said from the dock.
The chief prosecutor in response said the lawyers defending the accused at the court are getting the summary of the allegations.
The former law minister after that said when the summary (of the allegations) is given to the defence counsel; it should be supplied to the accused as well.
Former information minister Hasanul Haque Inu too spoke at that time and demanded to get the documents.
After that, the tribunal said they would look into the matter.
The tribunal today also set 29 April for holding hearing on a plea to allow Lt Col (retd) Mohammad Faruk Khan to admit at Dhaka CMH for treatment. Senior advocate Mustafizur Rahman Khan moved the plea before the court.
