New ICT chairman seeks cooperation
Chairman of the reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 Justice Md Shahinur Islam yesterday sought cooperation from both prosecution and defence counsels to conduct the court proceedings smoothly.
Justice Shahinur made the call on the first working day of the tribunal, which reached an impasse since July 13 when its chairman, Justice Anwarul Haque, passed away.
Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo and defence counsel Gazi MH Tamim assured the tribunal of cooperation and later it fixed October 22 to rehear the closing arguments in the war crimes case against six Gaibandha men.
On May 9, the tribunal completed the case's trial proceedings and kept the verdict waiting.
The tribunal decided to rehear the closing arguments as the tribunal reconstituted with new chairman and two members. Earlier on two occasions, the tribunal reheard the closing arguments after reconstitution of the tribunal.
The accused are former Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Abu Saleh Md Abdul Aziz Mia, Ruhul Amin alias Manju, Abu Muslim Md Ali, Abdul Latif, Najmul Huda, and Abdur Rahim Mia. Latif is in jail now while others are absconding.
The government on Wednesday reconstituted the tribunal by appointing its chairman and two members after three months of stalemate in war crimes trial.
Justice Shahinur Islam, a High Court judge and member of the tribunal, has been appointed as the chairman. Justice Amir Hossain, another HC judge, and Abu Ahmed Jomader, a retired district judge who is now on post-retirement leave, have been appointed as members.
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