Justice Nozrul withdraws name from Mir Quasem's defence

 DHAKA:  Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, a recently retired judge of the High Court division, today withdrew his name from the defence team of convicted war criminal Mir Quasem Ali.

The appearance of Justice Nozrul, in favour of Jamaat leader against the state before the Apex Court on February 10, raised some eyebrows as after his retirement from the High Court on December 2015, he has been living in Judges' Complex and enjoying all the state facilities.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam drew attention of the Apex Court to the matter on that day, questioning his appearance against the state.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said Justice Nozrul took part in the hearing with his permission but "all, retired and current judges, should protect the dignity of the Judges' Complex."

Today, when the Appellate Division started hearing the appeal matter of Mir Quasem for the third days, Justice Nozrul said, "Two senior lawyers will conduct the case. I am sorry. I am withdrawing myself from the case."

Mir Quasem lodged appeal on November 30, 2014, challenging death sentence to him by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 for committing crimes against humanity in 1971.

The now defunct ICT-2 on November 2, 2014, sentenced Quasem to death as it found him guilty of 10 charges out of total 14.

Quasem, known as 'Bangali Khan' during 1971, in his appeal sought

acquittal from the charges citing 181 grounds.

Source: BSS