ICT asks for progress report on charges against Azharul

International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday asked the prosecution to submit a progress report to it on March 13 on the ongoing investigation or formal charges against the war crimes suspect, ATM Azharul Islam.
The three-member tribunal led by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir gave the order following prosecution's prayer for time extension. Tribunal-1 also allowed prosecution's another petition on quizzing Azhar at safe home.
Justice Kabir said the investigation agency would have to quiz him at safe home on a day among the next ten days beginning from yesterday.
A defence counsel is allowed to be present during the interrogation. The tribunal asked the investigation agency to inform the defence in advance.
Defence counsel for the war crimes suspects, Ghulam Azam and Motiur Rahman Nizami, yesterday prayed to the tribunal for adjourning the day's proceedings, as the conducting lawyer and the defence witness could not attend the tribunal due to hartal.
The tribunal granted their prayers and adjourned Ghulam Azam's case until today and Nizami's case until February 7.
The three Jamaat-e-Islami leaders are facing trial on charges of crimes against humanity during the country's Liberation War in 1971.