Jamaat leader Selim apologises

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Selim Uddin yesterday sought unconditional apology to International Crimes Tribunal-2 for his provocative and derogatory remarks about trial proceedings and the tribunal.
Two other Jamaat leaders Rafiqul Islam Khan and Hamidur Rahman Azad, MP, however, did not appear before the court, even after its order and did not give explanation over their comments.
On April 21, the tribunal initiated contempt proceedings against the Jamaat leaders for their “provocative and derogatory remarks”.
Yesterday, the court, after holding the hearing on a written reply of Selim Uddin, fixed June 9 for passing order in this regard.
Selim Uddin's lawyer Tajul Islam yesterday said he was not “justifying” his client's comments, rather seeking “unconditional apology” for the comments.
The February 4 video footages of RTV and ATN News of a Jamaat rally were screened in the tribunal and Selim Uddin, who was produced before the court, himself sought apology.
“I had no intention to disrespect the court. Even though, if it hurts the court, I apologise for my comments,” said Selim Uddin.
On February 7, the tribunal asked the trio to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for their comments about trial proceeding and the tribunal at the rally on February 4.
On March 6, the court ordered the police to arrest the Jamaat leaders and produce them before the court for “deliberately avoiding” appearance before the tribunal in connection with a contempt of court ruling.
Of them, Selim Uddin, Dhaka city unit assistant secretary general of Jamaat, was arrested following a warrant for arrest issued by the tribunal, while acting secretary general Rafiqul Islam Khan, and central executive council member Hamidur Rahman Azad, are on the run.
The court, on its own, issued the notice for contempt of court on the basis of reports published in The Daily Star and Bangla daily Prothom Alo on February 5.
The Prothom Alo quoted Selim Uddin as saying; “There is no scope for the controversial tribunal to deliver any verdict if the country is to be saved from a civil war.”
The daily quoted Azad as saying at the same programme, “This tribunal cannot exist any more.”
The Daily Star, in a report headlined “Jamaat warns of civil war”, quoted Rafiqul Islam as saying, “Don't push the country into a civil war by delivering one-sided verdicts against our leaders. If anything happens to Quader Mollah, every house will be on fire.”
If found guilty, the tribunal, as per section 11 (4) of the act, may award the Jamaat leaders simple imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to Tk 5,000 or with both.
MOJAHEED'S CASE
The defence of Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed yesterday placed their closing arguments before the tribunal for the fifth day.
During his around two-hour arguments, Mojaheed's chief defence counsel Abdur Razzaq placed his submission mainly on the alleged command responsibility of Mojaheed over the infamous Al-Badr forces.
Razzaq said five of seven charges framed under section 4(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act-1973 were “defective.”
The tribunal adjourned the case proceeding until today.