DHAKA: Delwar Hossain Sayedee, one of the four top Jamaat-e-Islami leaders now facing trial on war-crime charges, was not produced before the international crimes tribunal Tuesday for his illness.

He will be produced before the tribunal on August 24 as the tribunal adjourned hearing on the charges against the four until then.

The tribunal asked the Dhaka Central Jail authorities to produce Sayedee on the next date for his alleged ‘crimes against humanity’ during the 1971 War of Liberation.

He was due before the tribunal Tuesday, but could not appear for his “sudden illness”, officials said.

Lawyers of the Jamaat leaders filed two petitions for Sayedee – one against issuance of arrest warrant as he is already in custody and another for appointing a power-of-attorney pleader on his behalf.

So far, lawyers of Jamaat have filed eight petitions with the tribunal for cases against five of its top leaders.

“All the petitions will be heard (analogous) on August 24,” tribunal chairman Nizamul Huq Nasim said.

He was aided by another member of the tribunal, ATM Fazle Rabbi, in the day’s court proceedings.
   
During the hearing on August 4, tribunal prosecutor Syed Rezaur Rahman placed two specific allegations of war crimes against Sayedee.  Rahman alleged that Sayedee had committed “genocide, rape, looting and arson” at Pirojpur with a Pakistani army Captain named Ezaz.

“On May 8, 1972, Sayedee murdered freedom fighters Alamgir Poshari, Mahbub Poshari, Chan Mia Poshari, Jahangir Poshari and Kanchan and looted cash and gold. He also set fire to their houses,” it was stated in the complaints.

“Forces led by Sayedee on June 2, 1971 attacked the Hindu areas of Umedkhali village looted cash and gold, set fire to houses and killed freedoms fighters. They also handed over young girls to the Pakistani occupation forces,” the complainant added.

BDST 1135 HRS, AUGUST 10, 2010.