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War Crimes Trial of Mir Quasem Ali

Defence claims charges not specific

Staff Correspondent
The defence lawyers of Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali yesterday prayed that the International Crimes Tribunal-1 exonerates him from the war crimes charges as those were not specific.
The prosecution brought 14 war crimes charges against Quasem for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
"For example the identity of the murder victims in the proposed charges number 11 and 12 are not specified. In charge number 11, the prosecution failed to specify the identity of the victim Jashim and the other so called five unknown dead persons," said defence counsel Tanvir Ahmed Al Amin.
He also claimed that the other war crimes charges brought against Quasem in connection with abduction, torture and detaining of 27 people in Chittagong and setting fire to homes and shops are also not specific.
“If the prosecution are unable to provide specific dates for the incidents, then they should be prevented from including the event in the formal charge," he said.
During the charge framing hearing on July 25, prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon said they had enough documentary evidence, besides oral testimony, on Quasem's alleged war crimes.
Charge 11 reads: One Jasim along with five unidentified people was abducted sometime after the Eid-ul-Fitr of 1971. They were detained and tortured at Dalim Hotel at Anderkillaand later killed.
Charge 12 reads: Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Ranjit Das Prokash Latu and Tuntu Sen were kidnapped sometime in November 1971. Latu and Tuntu were later killed and their bodies were never found.
Tanvir said the evidences were insufficient to prove the proposed charges beyond reasonable doubt.
He also said the superior responsibility of the crimes did not fall on Quasem as the formal charges did not mention whom Quasem had commanded to commit the crimes.
Tanvir argued on why the trial was being held 42 years after the crimes had been committed and the applicability of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973 in the case.
Prosecutor Zead Al Malum sought time for preparing the reply to the defence's argument. The tribunal adjourned the proceedings until August 21.
Yesterday, the tribunal-1 also deferred the charge framing hearing against Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam to August 29 and allowed the defence lawyers to communication with him inside the jail.