ICT-1 denies Mahfuz Ullah exemption from personal appearance

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 in a contempt of court notice hearing yesterday denied journalist Mahfuz Ullah exemption from personal appearance for finding his conduct “inappropriate” and called him over, threatening to issue an arrest warrant.
Following a September 24 petition by the prosecution in the war crimes case against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, the ICT-1 on September 26 issued the notice asking why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against seven persons.
The seven are Mahfuz, also secretary general of the Centre for Sustainable Development; Zafrullah Chowdhury, trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra; Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and four Channel 24 officials.
The petition drew attention to the September 18 episode of Channel 24's talk show “Muktobaak” where Zafrullah and Mahfuz had claimed that war criminal Salauddin's rights had been violated for not being allowed to produce witnesses.
Before yesterday's date was fixed, the hearing of the seven's replies had been deferred at different times and except for compliance with an exclusive court order to appear on December 1, Mahfuz had appeared in none.
Yesterday, Tarikul Islam, representing Mahfuz, could not give a satisfactory reply to his absence.
Pointing at Zafrullah who appeared on each scheduled date, Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim said, “Both Mr Zafrullah and Mahfuz Ullah are renowned persons in society. For you (Tarikul's client), he (Zafrullah) is suffering.”  
The tribunal asked Tarikul to call him over and Mahfuz duly complied at 2:00pm. The tribunal then rejected his petition where he sought exemption from personal appearance citing the country's ongoing volatile situation.
The tribunal also fixed January 28 for hearing the seven's replies after accepting a petition from Tarikul which sought a two-week adjournment to the hearing amid senior defence counsel Zainul Abedin's absence due to “personal difficulty”.

MA ZAHID HOSSAIN KHOKON'S CASE
ICT-1 yesterday recorded the depositions of the 19th and 20th prosecution witnesses' depositions, the latter's one behind closed doors, in the war crimes case against fugitive BNP leader and alleged Faridpur unit Razakar leader MA Zahid Hossain Khokon.
The 19th witness, Abdul Gafur Mollah, said Khokon shot dead his mother Chhoto Khatun on May 31, 1971 while they were fleeing the onslaught of the Pakistani occupation force and Razakars, led by Khokon, in Purapara village of Faridpur.
The octogenarian said while getting his family members over a neighbouring canal he had returned for the last person, his mother, but found her dead and that one Guru Das had told him that Khokon had killed her.
Following the deposition, defence counsel Abdus Shukur Khan cross-examined him. Khokon is being tried over 11 charges, including genocide, torture, abduction and confinement committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
MOBARAK HOSSAIN
ICT-1 yesterday adjourned the war crimes case against Mobarak Hossain until January 7 as per the defence's plea against their failure to produce their second witness.
Mobarak is facing five charges of war crimes, including genocide, committed during the Liberation War.
SHOW CAUSE NOTICE ON KHANDAKER MAHBUB HOSSAIN
With his lawyer, Zainul Abedin, absent, ICT-1 also adjourned till January 23 hearing of a reply to a show cause notice issued upon Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, the BNP chairperson's adviser and Bangladesh Bar Council vice-chairman.
The tribunal on October 6 asked Mahbub to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him for his comments on the verdict in the war crimes case against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.
After the pronouncement of the judgment, Mahbub, in a press conference, said, “If the nationalist force comes to power, they will punish the real war criminals.
“Those, who were tried out of vengeance in the cases filed on the basis of fairytale, will get release. And those who were involved in the trial proceedings, Inshallah (if Allah wills it), they will be tried on the soil of Bangla.”    
ICT-2
International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 yesterday completed recording the cross-examination of the 13th and 14th prosecution witnesses in the case against AKM Yusuf.
The duo, Sudhangshu Mandol and Babul Kumar Mistri, gave their testimonies on December 1 and 2 respectively.
Due to absence of Yusuf's conducting counsel, the tribunal had closed their cross-examinations but later allowed it following defence petitions.
Yusuf, historically known as founder of the infamous Razakar force, is facing 13 charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide committed in greater Khulna region during the Liberation War.