Prosecution to press charges against Kashem April 24

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali (centre). Star file photo

Charges against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War will be submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal-1 on April 24.

“The prosecution lawyers will submit the formal charges to the tribunal on April 24 after getting a final report from the investigation team,” advocate Rana Dasgupta, a prosecution lawyer, said at a press briefing at Chittagong Circuit House at 11:00am.

A five-member investigation team of the tribunal prepared the report after a weeklong enquiry that ended on March 28, he added.

“We talked with the local law enforcing agencies about providing security and protection to the prosecution witnesses,” the chief investigator, Nurul Islam, told the reporters.

The report was finalised after collecting evidence of crimes against humanity in Chittagong city allegedly committed by the Jamaat leader during the Liberation War in 1971.

The investigators talked to witnesses, collected their statements, and inspected scenes of the crimes.

The team reached in Chittagong on March 22.

Meanwhile, the investigation team is conducting an investigation into the alleged involvement of BNP leader Giasuddin Quader Chowdhury, also the brother of BNP lawmaker and war crimes suspect Salauddin Quader Chowhury, in war crimes.