War trial: Nizami verdict tomorrow
A tribunal in Dhaka, which is holding trial against Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami for his alleged wartime offences, will deliver its verdict tomorrow.
Nizami, 71, is facing 16 charges for his alleged involvement in genocide, mass killings and crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.
The Jamaat ameer, who was president of Islami Chhatra Sangha in 1971, played a vital role in collaborating with the Pakistani junta in committing genocide.
On March 24, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 led by its chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim kept the war crimes case waiting for verdict delivery for the second time.
The tribunal had kept the case waiting for verdict delivery on November 13, 2013, but then tribunal chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir went on retirement. The new chairman of the tribunal, appointed on February 23, decided to re-hear the closing arguments.
The investigators on October 2011 submitted a 411-page probe report on crimes Nizami allegedly committed. On December 11 of the same year, the prosecution pressed charges against the Jamaat chief.
The tribunal on January 9, 2012, accepted formal charges against Nizami.
The prosecution produced their first witness in Nizami's case on August 26, 2012, and examined 26 witnesses including the investigation officer of the case.
The defence completed cross-examining of the IO on October 7, 2013.
So far, the two tribunals delivered judgments in nine war crimes cases and seven, including Nizami's case, are pending.
CHARGES AGAINST NIZAMI
1. Causing arrest, detention, torture and murder of three victims including the head maulana Kasim Uddin of Pabna Zilla School on June 4, 1971.
2. Conspiring to commit crimes, and cause the killings of 450 people, rape of 30-40 women and deportation of villagers of Baousgari, Ruposhi and Demra in Pabna on May 14, 1971.
3. Complicity in torture, murder and rape at Mohammadpur Physical Training Institute in Dhaka during the war.
4. Complicity in murders, rapes, loot and destruction of properties at Karamja village of Pabna on May 8, 1971.
5. Complicity in the murder of 21 unarmed villagers of Arpara and Vutergari under Ishwardi Police Station on April 16, 1971.
6. Command responsibility for and involved in the murder of 30 people of Dhulaura village on November 27, 1971.
7. Complicity in torture and murder of Sohrab Ali on December 3, 1971.
8. Murder of Bodi, Rumi, Jewel and Azad at the Old MP Hostel on August 30, 1971.
9. Act of genocide that left about 70 Hindus of Brishalikha village killed on December 3, 1971.
10. Involvement in the destruction of Onil Chandra Kundu's house.
11. Delivering an inciting speech on August 3, 1971, during a meeting of Islami Chhatra Sangha at the Muslim Institute Chittagong.
12. Delivering an inciting speech on August 22, 1971, during a meeting organised in remembrance of Al Madani at the Islamic Academy Hall.
13. Delivering an inciting speech on September 8, 1971, marking the defence day on the Arts Building premises organised by Dhaka city unit of Chhatra Sangha.
14. Delivering an inciting speech to Razakars of Jessore On September 10, 1971.
15. Hatching a conspiracy to commit crimes at Sathia Pilot High School with Razakar commander Samad Miah.
16. Act of genocide to eliminate intellectuals and professionals.
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