Tribunal seeks interpretation on 3 points in Azhar case

FE Team | Published: August 26, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 asked on Monday the prosecution counsel to satisfy it with legal points as to how a local civilian war crimes accused had exerted superior command responsibility in the commission of the offence of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, reports UNB.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice M Enayetur Rahim, also asked the prosecution to explain whether war crimes accused ATM Azharul Islam as a local 'Al Badr commander' in Rangpur had the authority over the Pakistan occupation army during the Liberation War.
And the tribunal further asked the prosecution to make clear as to how an auxiliary force like Razakar, Al Badr and Al Shams had established its command over the regular armed forces of Pakistan during Bangladesh's Liberation War.
The tribunal's queries came during the prosecution case summing-up arguments on superior command responsibility by designated prosecutor Barrister Tapas K Baul.
Tapas, who was on his legs jotting down the tribunal's queries, sought time for homework in this regard and the tribunal allowed his oral plea.
Earlier, prosecutor Tapas had completed his summing-up arguments charge-wise with legal points on Joint Criminal Enterprise and Superior Command responsibility in collaboration with the Pakistan occupation army over the charges of 1971 crimes against humanity made against detained accused Azharul.
The prosecutor claimed that the prosecution has been able to prove all the six charges made against accused Azharul beyond any shadow of doubts and the accused should be awarded capital punishment considering the gravity of the crimes.
On November 12, 2013, the tribunal framed charges against ATM Azharul Islam for his involvement in crimes against humanity, including genocide, during the Liberation War in collaboration with the Pakistan occupation army, dismissing his discharge plea.