Ghulam Azam's plea rejected

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday rejected the petition of former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam seeking a 30-day bail during the holy month of Ramadan.
Ghulam Azam's defence counsel Abdur Razzaq during the hearing of the petition Tuesday sought the bail as Ghulam Azam wanted to fast with his family and perform the I'tikaf (an Islamic practice of being on retreat in a mosque for a certain number of days, especially during Ramadan).
The prosecution had argued that the bail petition was wrapped in religious sentiments.
Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice M Nizamul Huq said such bail petition was made by war crimes accused Jamaat Chief Matiur Rahman Nizami last year and it too was rejected.
Justice Nizamul said Ghulam Azam was still in hospital undergoing treatment and the tribunal was not sure whether he could perform the religious rites. However, he said, "We [tribunal] do not want to make any comments."
The tribunal further said if the relevant authorities--hospital and the prison--found Ghulam Azam to be fit enough to perform the rites, they could make arrangements in prison.
The tribunal said it did not find any reason to free Ghulam Azam on bail. "As such the petition stands rejected."
Ghulam Azam's first bail prayer was rejected on January 11 when he appeared before the court. The court had sent him to jail and he has been in the prison cell of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital almost ever since.
His second bail petition, filed on the grounds of deteriorating health, was rejected on February 24.
Meanwhile, Tribunal-1 yesterday also recorded cross-examination of investigation officer of a case filed against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.
Sayedee is facing charges on 20 specific counts for crimes against humanity. The proceeding of the case was adjourned until today.
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The defence counsels of Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah yesterday completed cross-examination of the third prosecution witness behind closed doors at the International Crimes Tribunal-2.
The three-member Tribunal-2, led by its Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir with members Justice Obaidul Hassan and Judge Md Shahinur Islam, adjourned the case proceeding until July 23 when the fourth prosecution witness was expected to testify.
For the first time at the international crimes tribunals, a witness testified behind closed doors on Tuesday. Besides the judges, three each of prosecutors and defence lawyers, court officials and the accused Quader Mollah were present at the courtroom yesterday.
Mohammad Ali, the conducting prosecutor of the case, told reporters that the tribunal had completed recording the cross-examination of the female witness.
On July 12, the tribunal decided to allow two female witnesses, members of victims' families, to give their testimonies against the Jamaat assistant secretary general behind closed doors to protect their identity and privacy.
Meanwhile, defence counsels yesterday filed a petition seeking appropriate action against prosecutors who had “violated court order” by disclosing before the media information on the proceedings in camera on Tuesday.
Defence counsel Mohammed Kafil Uddin Chowdhury told The Daily Star that the tribunal would hear the petition on July 23.