Quit tribunal
Pro-BNP-Jamaat lawyers yesterday demanded immediate resignation of Justice Nizamul Huq Nasim from the International Crimes Tribunal.
They placed the demand for what they said was Nizamul Huq was a member of the secretariat of People's Enquiry Commission which had investigated allegations against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee and several other prime war crimes suspects.
National Coordinating Committee for Realisation of Bangladesh Liberation War Ideals and Trial of Bangladesh War Criminals of 1971 formed the enquiry commission in 1993.
"If Justice Nizamul Huq remains as the chairman of the tribunal, it will be harmful for the prosecution and embarrassing for the government," said barrister Abdur Razzaq, Jamaat assistant secretary general and chief of defence counsel in the tribunal, at a joint press conference at the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president's office.
He said, "We apprehend that many unexpected and untoward incidents may happen in future if Nizamul Huq remains in the post."
SCBA President and BNP leader Khandker Mahbub Hossain, former speaker of parliament Jamiruddin Sircar, BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Mia, Zainul Abedin, and SCBA Secretary Bodruddoza Badal, among others, spoke at the press conference.
Abdur Razzaq said it is expected that Nizamul Huq will step down from his post since the tribunal was formed to hold the trial of the incidents which had been investigated by him [Nizamul].
There is no legal and moral ground for him to remain as the chairman of the tribunal.
"We are urging you [Nizamul Huq] to quit now," said the Jamaat leader, adding that Nizamul has stigmatised the judiciary and, above all, broken people's trust."
The senior counsel said Nizamul yesterday sat along with two other judges of the tribunal for hearing a review petition although the tribunal earlier left the issue of his recusal (voluntarily absence from trial) upon his good conscience.
This incident made the defence lawyers walk out of the tribunal, which is not only unfortunate but also unprecedented, Razzaq added.
Earlier on October 27, Razzaq told a press briefing that the chairman of the tribunal might be biased regarding the war crimes trial, and if he holds the post and conducts the trial, it will not ensure justice to the accused.
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