The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has once again deferred the recording of testimony in a case over the killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayed, who was shot dead during the July uprising in Rangpur last year. The prosecution witness failed to appear before the court for the third consecutive time.
It was the tenth scheduled day for recording testimonies in the case filed against 30 individuals, including senior university and police officials, on charges of murder and crimes against humanity.
The tribunal fixed November 10 for the next hearing after allowing a time petition submitted by the prosecution.
Prosecutors Shahidul Islam and Abdus Sattar Palowan represented the state during today's proceedings.
"The principle of natural justice requires that when one party files a petition, a copy must be served to the other," defence counsel Azizur Rahman Dulu said.
He said although the prosecution sought time in the last three dates to produce the witness, no documents were provided and the witness still did not appear.
"It is the prosecution's duty to prove the charges by producing witnesses, but they have failed to ensure the witness's presence before the tribunal," he added.