The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday gave the prosecution another three months to complete investigation against four top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders accused of war crimes.
The court extended the time, as the investigators missed its deadline for the fourth time yesterday.
The tribunal directed the prosecutors to submit for mal charges against them on November 1.
It also rejected the bail petition of the four Jamaat leaders -- party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, secretary general Ali Ahsan Moha-mmad Mojaheed, and assistant secretary generals Muhammad Kamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah -- now detained on war crimes charges.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Nizamul Huq also ordered the investigation agency to complete the probe into the war crimes charges against detained BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury within October 4.
Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arieff Tipoo told the tribunal that the investigation is taking time, as the investigators are visiting Faridpur, Mymensingh, Pabna and Jessore to probe the charges against the four.
"We believe we don't need further time if we get a 90-day extension," he told the tribunal.
Mojaheed, Kamar-uzzaman and Quader Mollah were present during the hearing. Police could not produce Nizami as he was in Chittagong in connection with another case against him.
On the probe against Salauddin, prosecutor Zead Al Malum said they need more time to examine some television reports on the 1971 war collected from foreign media.
During the hearing, the prosecution and the defence locked into an altercation over a comment made by defence counselor Tajul Islam involving a judge's role.
Replying to prosecutors' argument, Tajul said as per the rules, investigators are supposed to complete the probe within one year from the arrest of the accused. If they fail, the tribunal can extend the time in "exceptional situation".
He appealed that the tribunal not extend the time.
Tajul said a judge "helped" the prosecutors by saying that the investigation is at the last stage.
At this, tribunal Chairman Nizamul Huq asked Tajul to stop and said his comment was "wrong".
A number of prosecutors stood up in protest and asked Tajul to end his argument. Several defence lawyers also stood up and locked into an altercation with the prosecution.
Justice Nizamul asked all to calm down.
Tajul later apologised for his remark.
Source : The Daily Star
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