FROM PAGE 16

could challenge the witness’s credibility but could not ask such questions.

Defence lawyer Mizanur shot back, “A police officer was beaten to death, and his body was hanged. Why can’t I ask this question? The court has not convened here for a one-sided trial.”

He added that just as the prosecution had come to court responding to a mother’s plea, this matter involved the plea of Raju’s widow, holding up documents from the case she filed.

At this point, Prosecutor Mizanul questioned whether the defence had permission to present such documents and whether the tribunal had received the defence witness list and submissions.

The defence counsel responded sharply, “Do you want to create another Sukhranjan Bali? Whenever we submit a defence witness’s name, threats begin.”

Appearing before the tribunal over three months ago, Sukhranjan, a witness in the war crimes case against Delwar Hossain Sayedee, alleged that he had been kidnapped from the tribunal’s gate and later found himself in an Indian jail.

Prosecutor Mizanul replied that the defence lawyers “should not have come to court at all,” adding that they could have requested to keep the defence witness’s identity protected, but had not done so.

The tribunal then rebuked both sides, noting that “every time we start taking evidence, it turns into chaos”.

Defence counsel Mizanur argued that the law requires an approver to provide a true and full disclosure of all facts within his knowledge, saying, “This matter falls within his knowledge.”

The prosecutor countered that any question must be relevant to the crimes under trial.

Mizanur again asked Abzalul about the case filed by ASI Raju’s widow, drawing further objections from the prosecution, who insisted that only the witness’s credibility -- not unrelated matters -- could be probed.

“Then what does this relate to?” Mizanur asked, accusing the prosecution of “failing to uphold the law, relying instead on force”.

Prosecutor Mizanul, visibly agitated, repeatedly shouted, “What is this?” prompting the tribunal to tell both sides to maintain decorum.

Sixteen people have been accused in the case, eight of whom are currently in custody.