Nizami verdict today

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 is all set deliver the verdict today (Tuesday) in war crimes case against Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami. The ICT-1 set the date for pronouncing verdict through an order on Monday. Justice M Enayetur Rahim, chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, passed the order saying ‘Let the matter be fixed tomorrow for judgment and take measures to produce the accused before tribunal,’ Nizami, who has already been sentenced to death by a special tribunal in the 2004 Chittagong arms cases, was shifted to Dhaka Central Jail from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur district on Monday ahead of the verdict. He was arrested on July 29, 2010, for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. His trial began on May 28, 2012. On Aug 2, 2010, he was shown arrested for committing crimes against humanity. On Dec 11, 2012, the prosecution brought specific charges against Nizami and on Dec 28 the court took them into cognisance. Nizami, the incumbent chief of Jamaat, is charged with 16 counts of war crimes including murder, rape, looting, abetment and the massacre of Bengali intellectuals during the country’s Liberation War in 1971. The case’s hearing ended in November last year but ICT-1 ordered fresh arguments in the case last month in response to a defence petition filed for the sake of ‘justice’. Meanwhile, security has been tightened across the country, especially in Dhaka city ahead of the verdict. Sources at the Police Headquarters said instructions have already been given to all police units across the country to remain alert from 6:00am on Tuesday so that no unpleasant incident can take place over the ICT verdict on the Jamaat chief. A senior officer at the police headquarters said directives have already given to all police units to take necessary steps to maintain law and order at any cost Tuesday. In the capital, special security measures have been taken to avert any unpleasant situation over the verdict. Contacted, Deputy Commissioner (DB-PR) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Masudur Rahman said all-out security measures have been taken in the capital to foil any attempt to destabilise the law and order before and after the ICT verdict, report agencies.