ICT-1 reconstituted by appointing Justice Jamader as member

The government today reconstituted the International Crimes Tribunal-1 by appointing a member following a month of stalemate in war crimes trial.

Justice Abu Ahmed Jamader of High Court has been appointed as member of the tribunal. Law Ministry today issued a gazette notification in this regard.

Justice Jamader, a former district judge, was a member of the tribunal but it reached an impasse since May 30 as his post as a member fell vacant when he was appointed as a judge of the High Court.

Currently, 33 cases are now pending before the tribunal.

Besides, the tribunal on May 30 kept a case filed against five Patuakhali men waiting for delivery of verdict after both the prosecution and defence completed their closing arguments.

It is not clear if the tribunal would now hear the closing arguments again. On previous occasions, tribunal heard the closing arguments afresh after its reconstitution.

However, the issue this time is different as the tribunal has been reconstituted with a former member.

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 was formed in March 2010 and a second tribunal was formed in March 2012. But the second tribunal remained non-functioning since September 2015.