Witness deposition halted due to leaky ceiling at ICT-1
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 could not record the testimonies of witnesses yesterday as a leaking ceiling damaged the computer network of the special court.
Although data of the computer network was recovered after a five-hour attempt, the authorities have to establish a new network immediately, tribunal officials said.
An official said on several occasions, they have informed the authorities concerned about the ceiling leaking during rain but to no avail.
The incident happened 16 months after a part of the ceiling of the old High Court building that houses the International Crimes Tribunal collapsed, he said.
Part of the ceiling of the courtroom collapsed during proceedings in 2012.
Besides, parts of the ceiling of the building’s west block, which houses the chief prosecutor’s office, had collapsed several times -- forcing the chief prosecutor to write to the authorities for renovation of the century-old building at least twice.
The government set up ICT-1 in March 2010 and ICT-2 in March 2012 in the east block and later allotted the west block to the chief prosecutor’s office.
According to documents, the building opposite Curzon Hall of Dhaka University was constructed in the beginning of the 20th century.
On behalf of the tribunal’s registrar, Khondoker Mehdi Maswood, senior IT consultant of the tribunal, told The Daily Star that rainwater leaked through the ceiling because of the ongoing torrential rain.
The rainwater damaged the “witness deposition networking system”, he said.
“Although we could recover all data after five hours’ attempt, we have to establish a new network system immediately,” he added.
Maswood said they hoped to re-establish the network within tomorrow.
However, proceedings of the tribunal today will be held as “witness deposition networking system” will not be required, he said.
Recording of opening statement of the prosecution and testimony of first prosecution witness in the case against eight Mymensingh men, including former Jatiya Party lawmaker MA Hannan, for their alleged involvement in crimes committed during the Liberation War was set for yesterday.
But the tribunal adjourned the case until August 25 due to issues with the computer network and delay in producing the accused before the tribunal, Prosecutor Zead Al Malum said.
He said top officials of Public Works Department have already visited both the blocks and started the work.
“But it is already late,” he added.
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