WORLD
A Bangladesh tribunal today deferred the verdict on the chief of the fundamentalist Jamaat-e- Islami, accused of war crimes during the country's liberation war against Pakistan in 1971, at the last minute after authorities said he was sick and could not be moved from jail.
Motiur Rahman Nizami, 69, is charged with 16 counts of war crimes including murder, rape, looting, abatement and the massacre of Bengali intellectuals during the liberation war and could face the death penalty. "Reviewing all aspects, we have come to the conclusion that it will not be logical to deliver the verdict today... the judgment is kept on CAV (Curia Advisari Vult or reserving of judgement)," said Justice M Enayetur Rahim, chairman of the three-member panel of Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal. The special court was set to pronounce the judgment today.
Legal experts said the legal term, CAV, meant that the judges would like to take time to deliver the verdict.
Ahead of the deferring of the judgement, the tribunal sought opinions of both the prosecution and defence lawyers, referring a letter to them from the prison authorities informing the court about Nizami's illness. Both the sides said under the law, the accused, if detained in jail, must appear before the court when the verdict is delivered, unless one deliberately refuses to appear, suffers from prolonged illness or is set free on bail. "His (Nizami) blood pressure rose and he was given medication," senior Jail Superintendent Farman Ali told reporters. They are planning to send him to a specialised state-run facility to be treated for his sickness, he said.
The charges against Nizami include the murder of 70 people and torching of 72 houses in December, 1971, in Pabna's Bera Upazila, murdering 450 people in Demra and Baushia villages and killing many more in front of a Hindu temple in Santhiya Upazila.
About three million people were killed by the Pakistani army and their Bengali-speaking collaborators during the liberation war, according to official estimates. Nizami, the then head of the East-Pakistan unit of Jamaat's student affiliate -- Islami Chhatra Shangha -- is one of the last high-profile accused in the case. Almost the entire leadership of Jamaat-e-Islami stands accused of war crimes.
Eight people have been so far handed down death sentences and two others were sentenced to life term since the trial of war crimes began in 2011 by two tribunals set up by the Awami League government.
Earlier, the authorities deployed paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and armed police to keep a vigil in the capital and other major cities fearing a possible backlash after the verdict was given.
Police and RAB specially set up four layers of security around the tribunal building near the Supreme Court Complex as hundreds of activists of the Ganojagaran Mancha, a forum of youngsters spearheading the campaign for maximum punishment for war criminals, gathered outside the premises. A faction of the Mancha alleged a "conspiracy" in the deferring of the verdict.
Imran H Sarkar, a spokesman of the Mancha, said the judgement was postponed due to a "cunning move". "This is a conspiracy. We will fight it...No war crimes verdicts have been announced in the last six months," Sarkar said. The 1971 freedom fighters had also gathered outside the building and were expecting to celebrate in case of a favourable verdict. The trial against Nizami began on May 28, 2012, two years after his arrest for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
The judgement was expected to end a major phase of the trial of crimes against humanity during the 1971 liberation war as Nizami is the last high-profile accused to be tried. The tribunal wrapped up the trial hearing seven months ago.
Nizami's case took the longest time to be disposed since the launch of the war crimes trials, lawyers said. One of the major charges against him is the systematic elimination of the leading intelligentsia just two days ahead of the Bangladesh's December 16, 1971 victory. Only one among those sentenced in the war crimes cases, Jamaat's joint secretary general Abdul Quader Mollah, has so far been executed.
Of the 10 convicted in the cases, eight are Jamaat stalwarts and the other two are leaders of its crucial ally, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday told Parliament that the tribunals were still hearing 10 cases, even as verdicts were awaited in four cases, including that of Nizami.
According to reports, of the accused who are still being tried, two are Jamaat leaders, two belong to BNP, one is a local leader of the ruling Awami League and one is a former minister of ex-military dictator HM Ershad's regime.
During his indictment, Nizami had pleaded "not guilty" and said the then Pakistan Peoples Party leader Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was entirely responsible for the genocide in 1971.
Nizami was a minister in the BNP-led four-party alliance government from 2001-2006.
A special tribunal has already sentenced Nizami and 13 others, including a top leader of India's separatist outfit ULFA, to death in the 2004 Chittagong arms cases. The tribunal found him guilty of complicity in trying to smuggle in a huge quantity of weapons through the port city while he was Industry Minister in the BNP-led government of Khaleda Zia.
DNA TV Show: Why Gautam Adani charged with bribery and fraud in US
IND vs AUS: Records Virat Kohli can break during Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Diljit Dosanjh fans get angry over Ananya Panday's birthday post for her grandmother, here's why
Reddit suffers outage with ‘upstream connect error’ message, says 'currently investigating...'
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: How has Jasprit Bumrah fared in Tests in Australia?
Delhi records coldest night of the season, temp drops to...
Crossing the Line: Ukraine's Use of Storm Shadow Missiles and the Escalation of Conflict
When Malaika Arora talked about the controversial ‘instant pleasure’ ad, it was for…
This is the world’s most expensive shopping street, not Fifth Avenue, New Bond Street, it is...
Big setback for Gautam Adani, Kenya cancels Rs 6216 crore deal with Adani Group due to...
Viral video: Man’s jugaad to stay warm in winter will leave you SHOCKED, watch here
Hinduja Group firm gets key approval for acquisition of Anil Ambani's debt-ridden Reliance Capital
Viral video: Middle-Class man lives dream of having tea at Taj Hotel, netizens applauds
Shloka Mehta looks stunning in white floral kurta as she clicked with Akash Ambani, it costs Rs....
Who is Sagar Adani, Gautam Adani's nephew, accused of bribery, fraud charges in US?
PayPal down: Several users face issue while logging into accounts, say 'no one could...'
IND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins eye historic captaincy milestone in Perth Test
BGT 2024, Ind vs Aus: Can Shubhman Gill be the new Cheteshwar Pujara? Is he really ready?
The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Gifting: Discover Heirloom Pashmina by Pashmina.com
Effortless Relocations: The Perks Of Professional Removalists In Melbourne
Watch: Pakistan fan with 'Imran Khan' poster asked to leave Hobart stadium in Australia
International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for...
What is demisexuality? Everything you need to know about this lesser-known sexual orientation
WATCH: World’s shortest woman meets world’s tallest woman, video goes viral
IND vs AUS 1st Test: Predicted playing XIs, Perth weather forecast and pitch report
IND vs AUS: When will Rohit Sharma join India squad? Check latest update
'Scam 2024': Diljit Dosanjh lookalike pranks people on Pune streets, video goes viral
Delhi Air Pollution: Centre announces staggered work timings for govt employees; check details
Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Jio loses nearly 80 lakh subscribers in just 30 days, BSNL adds...
IND vs AUS, 1st Test Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for India vs Australia match
This country has most expensive passport in world, not US, UK, UAE, it costs Rs...
Amitabh Bachchan opens up on Aishwarya Rai-Abhishek Bachchan divorce rumours
Amid rising air pollution, Delhi-NCR's crematorium records cleanest air; check AQI here
Revolutionising Medical Imaging: Venudhar Rao Hajari’s impact on healthcare technology
Abhishek Gupta and Onevision Media: Scaling brands on social media
Video shows Korean girl eating jalebi for first time, her reaction to Indian sweet goes viral
Cristiano Ronaldo confirms THIS YouTube star as his next guest, says, 'Will break Internet'
Delhi Assembly Elections: AAP releases first list of 11 candidates for 2025 polls
Adani Group's FIRST REACTION after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
Instagram introduces new feature, know how to reset app's algorithm, change your feed
No mention of Aaradhya Bachchan in Amitabh Bachchan's post on birthdays, it happened recently
Oppo Find X8 and X8 Pro launched in India, check specifications, price, other details
Charges against Gautam Adani: BJP's scathing attack on Congress, questions timing of development
Jasprit Bumrah's BIG statement on taking up Perth test captaincy, says, 'tactically better...'
Blackout on breaks: Company imposes no-sick-leave policy until 2025
Drug-laden terrorists on India's western, northern frontiers
Mohammad Shami trolls Sanjay Manjrekar over IPL auction bid prediction, says, 'Baba ki...'
IND vs AUS Test: When and where to watch 1st match of Border-Gavaskar trophy, know details here
CAQM amends Grap Stages III, IV, enforces stricter measures in Delhi-NCR amid air pollution woes
Malayalam actor Meghanathan passes away at 60 after suffering from...
Adani Green Energy's FIRST reaction after US indicts Gautam Adani in alleged bribery case
'Keep me out of...': Pakistani Instagram star Mathira on MMS leak controversy
Delhi Air Pollution: AQI marginally improves from 'severe' to 'very poor' category
Meet actress who worked with Alia Bhatt, was asked to 'compromise', connected to Aishwarya Rai by..
Aishwarya Rai’s remark on Amitabh Bachchan’s ‘habits’ goes viral amid divorce rumours with Abhishek
Rekha's BOLD statement about Amitabh Bachchan goes viral, 'why hurt...'
Meet man, IITian who built Rs 5493 crore firm, has this Mukesh Ambani connection, he is from...
Shillong Teer Results TODAY November 21, 2024 Live Updates: Check winning numbers here
‘I didn’t have time to…’: When AR Rahman revealed having ‘agreement’ before marriage to Saira Banu
Amitabh Bachchan praises Abhishek Bachchan's new film, netizens ask 'kash ye Aishwarya...'
Viral video: Woman's sizzling belly dance to 'Namak' impresses internet, watch
Hardik Pandya banned, Mumbai Indians captain to miss first match of IPL 2025 due to...
Meet man who studied at IIM, IIT, then built Rs 1160000000 company, got inspired by…
Meet woman, who quit as dentist for UPSC exam, became IAS officer with AIR...