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Alim's trial at final stage

Closing arguments begin today

Staff Correspondent
The case against war crimes accused BNP leader Abdul Alim is set to enter the final stage as International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday fixed today for beginning of closing arguments.
The two-member tribunal of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam fixed the date as depositions by both prose-
cution and defence witnesses were completed yesterday.
The court asked the prosecution to start their arguments today as it completed recording the cross-examination of Sazzad bin Alim, son of the accused and the last defence witness. As per relevant laws, after hearing the closing arguments the tribunal will either keep the case waiting for verdict or set a date for delivering the verdict.
Alim, a member of late president Ziaur Rahman's cabinet, is facing 17 charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity and genocide committed in Joypurhat during the Liberation War in 1971.
Of the 17 charges framed on June 11, 2012, 15 were in connection with his alleged involvement in the killings of at least 585 people in 15 incidents. The two other charges were in connection with looting, arson, deportation and detention of unarmed civilians.
Arrested on March 27, 2011, the 83-year-oId former BNP lawmaker has been on conditional bail since March 31, 2011 on health grounds.
The prosecution produced 35 witnesses and exhibited a number of documents to prove Alim's involvement in crimes like genocide, murder, arson and looting.
On the other side, the defence produced three witnesses, including Alim's son, and several documents to prove their client's alibi.
On Monday, Sazzad defended his father, saying he was not involved in any war crimes. Prosecutor Rana Dasgupta completed his cross-examination yesterday in around two and a half hours.
Replying to a court query, Sazzad said his father had surrendered before a court on February 28, 1972 following the government proclamation under the Collaborators Act, 1972 and a case was filed against him under the same act on
March 9,1972.
Sazzad claimed his father was acquitted from the case for lack of evidence.
But according to a petition of the defence, a special tribunal ordered police to go for further investigation into the case and "in the meantime" the High Court on January 14,1974 granted him bail and Alim was released on January 18.
Sazzad said after the withdrawal of the first case, another case was filed against his father under the same act, but police gave the final report.
The petition also said in January 1974 Alim was arrested again through an emergency order under the Security Act and was released on August 6, 1975 following "an order of the then president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman."
Replying to a question from Rana Dasgupta,
Sazzad said he was not aware that his father was the president of Joypurhat Union Board before 1971 and the vice-chairman of Bogra District Council in 1971.
The witness said his father contested the 1970 election as a candidate of Convention Muslim League but conceded defeat.
Rana suggested that Alim had taken part in the provincial by-election in 1971 and was elected uncontested, but Sazzad rejected the claim.
Sazzad said his father had become a member of Ziaur Rahman's cabinet in 1978 when Shah Azizur Rahman was prime minister.
In September 1971, Shah Aziz, a collaborator of the then Pakistan government, led the Pakistan delegation to the UN General Assembly on behalf of the murderous Yahya Khan junta.