‘Ziaul Ahsan ICT trial may wrap up by Oct’

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Prosecutor Mizanul Islam said on Sunday that the trial of Ziaul Ahsan, who faces charges of involvement in the enforced disappearance and killing of more than 100 people, is nearing completion, with proceedings at the tribunal likely to end by October.
Briefing journalists on the ICT premises, Mizanul Islam said the prosecution had concluded the testimony of its eyewitnesses and was now moving towards the final stages of the trial. The tribunal, however, has the sole authority to determine when the verdict will be delivered. Retired Major Sabbir Rahman Osmani, who served as deputy commander of RAB-8 in Barishal from 2009 before taking voluntary retirement in 2014, testified as the 13th prosecution witness in the crimes against humanity case against Ziaul Ahsan. He told the tribunal that he had witnessed around 15 to 20 so-called ‘Golf operations’ involving staged encounters and killings in the Barishal region.
“Through the cross-examination of Major Sabbir, the testimony of the eyewitnesses has been completed. After that, a seizure witness, Shamimul Islam, testified as PW-14. On the next scheduled date, the chief investigating officer of the case will testify. And the trial proceedings are likely to end by October,” Mizanul Islam said. The prosecution has presented witnesses in connection with the alleged disappearances and killings of 104 victims. Except in the case of boatman Altaf Mallik’s alleged abduction, eyewitnesses to the incidents have been produced before the tribunal.
Among the prosecution witnesses are officers who allegedly served in the accused’s chain of command at the time, including senior commanders and subordinate officers.
The prosecution has argued that the direct and circumstantial evidence presented before the tribunal is sufficient to establish the allegations against Ziaul Ahsan beyond reasonable doubt. Mizanul Islam said the prosecution expected the tribunal to award the death penalty to Ziaul Ahsan, whom he described as a “serial killer”.