Defence says no proof against him

War crimes accused former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam's counsel yesterday reiterated that the prosecution failed to specify how the accused was involved in war crimes during the Liberation War.
“The prosecution said 30 lakh people were killed during the Liberation War.
I get that. But they [the prosecution] have to specify how many people among these 30 lakh Ghulam Azam killed,” said chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq while placing closing arguments for the second day at the International Crimes Tribunal-1.
Razzaq also said Ghulam Azam did not lead any propaganda against Bangladesh, which was mentioned in the formal charges.
He then pointed out a section of the formal charges which said Ghulam Azam visited Saudi Arabia in March 1975 and met the Saudi king and campaigned against Bangladesh. He told the king that Hindus had captured East Pakistan, and the holy Quran had been burned, mosques had either been destroyed or converted into temples and many Muslims had been killed. Ghulam Azam also collected funds from the Middle East for “re-establishing mosques and madrasas,” the charges said.
“We deny it,” Razzaq said.
The defence counsel said the prosecution had not brought any evidence to support that Ghulam Azam plotted to destroy the Hindu or Bangalee community.
Mentioning the deposition of the first prosecution witness, Muntassir Mamoon, Abdur Razzaq said the witness said Ghulam Azam held meetings with Tikka Khan but he did not bring any allegation of crimes against humanity against Ghulam Azam.
The counsel placed closing arguments for about two and half hours yesterday.
The proceeding of the case was adjourned until today.
NIZAMI'S CASE
Defence counsel Mizanul Islam for war crimes accused Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami yesterday completed cross-examining third prosecution witness Rustom Ali Mollah.
In reply to a question, Rustom said he came to the tribunal knowing full well that he would testify against Nizami.
Rustom said he was on the Mohammadpur Physical Training College campus when allied force conducted air strikes on Dhaka during the Liberation War.
“Ten days before the independence, about 200-250 people were brought to the college. But I did not know them,” he said replying a question of the defence.
The witness said he gave interviews before television channels.
Mizanul made suggestions that the witness had not mentioned Nizami as a war crimes accused in those interviews.
“It's not true,” the witness said.
The proceeding of the case was adjourned until April 15.