Probe reports likely in two months

The war crimes investigation agency may submit within two months its probe reports on at least four cases, including one on Jamaat-e-Islami for its Liberation War role.
Abdul Hannan Khan, coordinator of the agency, told The Daily Star on Tuesday, "We will be able to complete the investigation on three to four cases in next two months."
He noted with concern that the delay in recruiting a judge not only held back trial proceedings at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 but also cast a shadow on the activities of the agency.
Investigators have nearly finalised reports on Jamaat and three individuals -- former Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS) leader Shakhawat Hossain and two alleged Razakars from Kishoreganj.

Besides, the agency is investigating allegations of war crimes against six other persons.
Sanaul Huq, a senior member of the agency, told The Daily Star Wednesday that it may take a month's time to submit the report on Jamaat.
"Investigators have collected huge number of documents. We are now sorting and binding them in several volumes. The whole process is requiring extra time," said Motiur Rahman, the investigation officer of Jamaat case.    
"These volumes will serve the purpose of judges, prosecution, defence and the agency," he added.
The officials said the probe report on former ICS leader Shakhawat would be completed within one or two months. The agency has recorded statements of about 105 witnesses and victims.
Investigator Sanaul said, "The agency has become more mature over the years. We will submit the charges concisely and the witness list will not be long."
On September 22, 2013, the agency filed its last probe report on Syed Mohammad Qaisar for his alleged involvement in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Formed in 2010, the agency has received 571 cases. It has completed investigation of 17 cases. Of the cases, nine had been disposed of by the tribunals while eight cases remain pending.
DELAY IN APPOINTING CHAIRMAN
The chairman of the Tribunal-1 went into retirement on December 31 last year. Until now, no one was appointed to that position and the proceedings of five cases, including one on Jamaat ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami, remained stalled.
Earlier in 2012, the hearing of Delawar Hossain Sayedee's case was disrupted when the then Tribunal-1 chief justice Nizamul Huq resigned following the Skype controversy.
After Huq was replaced by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, the closing arguments of Sayedee's case had to be re-heard.
Though the government took only two days' time to reconstitute the tribunal at that time, it had not apparently taken any steps to appoint the new tribunal chairman after December 31 last year.  
The trials of Jamaat leaders ATM Azharul Islam and Abdus Subhan are in the initial stage while the tribunal is recording witness testimonies in the cases against Awami League leader Mobarak Hossain and BNP leader MA Zahid Hossain Khokon.
At the Tribunal-2, the trial of war crimes accused AKM Yusuf is set to enter into its final stage on February 12 as the court on Wednesday fixed the date for the beginning of closing arguments.
The proceedings against another Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali is now in the middle stage.
The trial of Syed Mohammad Qaisar, a former state minister of HM Ershad regime, is set to start on March 4 as the tribunal indicted him on 16 charges of genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria in 1971.