The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Sunday deferred the hearing of the trial of Mobarak Hossain, alleged Razakar commander from Brahmanbaria, till March 18.
The first tribunal set the date accepting a time plea from Advocate Tajul Islam, counsel for Mobarak. In his application, Tajul mentioned that Advocate Ahsanul Huq Hena, conducting counsel for the accused, is sick and is taking medical care. On the other hand, prosecutor Syed Haider Ali opposed the defence plea saying it is nothing but an attempt to kill the time.
“The last hearing in this trial was held on December 15, 2013. After that it was deferred twice for various reasons. It cannot go this way. So I am pleading for closing the defence witnesses,” the prosecutor said.
After that the tribunal set the new date and also asked the defence to have alternative preparation for that day, in case the conducting counsel failed to appear again.
The ICT-1 on April 23, 2013, framed five charges of crimes against humanity against Mobarak.
Meanwhile, the same tribunal adjourned the hearing of the trial of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam till March 16. The tribunal set the new date as Advocate Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, counsel for Azhar, concluded cross-examining Mokhlesur Rahman Sarker, the third prosecution witness (PW).
