\\\'War crimes charge against Azharul contradictory\\\'

 A defence counsel for war crimes accused ATM Azharul Islam claimed on Sunday that the prosecution has failed to prove the charge of abetting, facilitating and contributing to killing several civilians and burning down their houses at Moksedspur and Ramnathpur, Rangpur on April 16, 1971 in collaboration with the Pakistan occupation army, reports UNB.
"The evidence of the prosecution witnesses (PWs) in proving the charge No. 2 appeared contradictory and full of inconsistencies," said A Sobhan Tarafder during the defence case summing-up arguments for the sixth day before the International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice M Enayetur Rahim.
Pointing out the prosecution charge of looting and arson made against accused Azharul as crimes against humanity, the defence counsel said the prosecution had erred in this regard as there is no such definition under the International Crimes Tribunal Act, 1973.
Even, the two charges do not fall under 'other inhumane acts' as the charges are also undefined, he added.
"Whatever might be the criminal acts that had taken place in Rangpur during the Liberation War, how my client got involved as some of the PWs did not mention the name of accused Azharul while narrating the awful criminal acts?" questioned counsel Tarafder.
Before adjourning the proceedings, the tribunal reminded the defence counsel to finish his summing up arguments over the remaining charges by Monday.
On November 12, 2013, the tribunal framed charges against ATM Azharul Islam, a 1971 'Al Badr' commander, for his involvement in crimes against humanity, including genocide, during the Liberation War in collaboration with the Pakistan occupation army, dismissing his discharge plea.