Nizami's speeches led to war crimes: Prosecution

The International Crimes Tribunal fixed March 27 for recording the defence counsels' arguments on charge framing against Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami in connection with the 1971 crimes against humanity as the prosecution finished its arguments yesterday.
Nizami had addressed a number of rallies at different places during the Liberation War and had instigated his followers, through his speeches, to commit crimes like murder, rape, arson and torture, Syed Haider Ali, a prosecutor, told reporters yesterday.
Nizami also led his followers to commit crimes, and in many incidents of crime, he was personally present, Ali said, adding that the prosecution had evidence enough to frame charges against the Jamaat-e-Islami ameer.
Denying the allegations, Abdur Razzaq, chief of the defence team, told reporters that Nizami had not committed any crimes by addressing rallies.
Prosecutors Syed Haider Ali and Altaf Uddin Ahmed placed their arguments as the tribunal of Justice Md Nizamul Huq and Justice ATM Fazle Kabir started proceedings at 10:40am yesterday.
On completion of their arguments, a two-member tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Md Nizamul Huq fixed March 27 to hear arguments of the defence counsels. AKM Zaheer Ahmed, a member of the tribunal, was not present due to his illness.
Nizami, who is facing 15 charges of crimes against humanity, was produced yesterday.
QUADER MOLLAH
The tribunal re-fixed the date for recording the defence counsel's arguments in a case against another Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah on March 28.
The court passed the order following an adjournment petition from Quader Mollah's lawyers.
Quader Mollah, assistant secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami, who is facing seven charges of the 1971 crimes against humanity, was not produced before the tribunal.
Nizami and Quader Mollah are among six Jamaat and two BNP leaders facing charges of crimes against humanity at the tribunal.