Justice Nozrul Islam and other members join ICT-2

Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-2, and its two other members joined the tribunal yesterday.

The three were present at their office for the second consecutive day today, sources at the tribunal confirmed the development to The Daily Star.

ICT Prosecutor (admin) Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim today told The Daily Star, "We do not know yet when the court (ICT-2) proceedings will begin."

On May 8, the government reconstituted the ICT-2 by appointing Justice Nozrul, a former judge of the High Court Division, as the chairman of ICT-2 and named former district and sessions judge Manjurul Bashid and current Madaripur District and Sessions Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir as its members.

The second tribunal has been reconstituted to expedite the ongoing trials and address the increasing number of cases filed over atrocities committed during the July mass uprising.

Currently, 22 cases are pending with the ICT-1 and 339 complaints have already been filed with the ICT investigation agency over the July atrocities.

ICT chief prosecutor Tajul Islam today told journalists that some cases filed with ICT-1 either would be transferred or fresh cases would be filed with ICT-2. But a government gazette is required for this.

On October 14 last year, the government reconstituted the ICT-1 by appointing Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder as the chairman, Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmood and former judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chawdhury as the members for trying case of crimes against humanity during the July-August uprising.