Dhaka: The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today continued presenting their arguments for the third consecutive day in a case against three individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July-August Mass Uprising. At the conclusion of today's session, Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the tribunal's three-member panel, adjourned the hearing until tomorrow.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam presented various documentaries related to the July Mass Uprising, alongside audio recordings of telephonic conversations involving Sheikh Hasina, Hasanul Haque Inu, and Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh. The prosecution also referred to testimonies from various witnesses, establishing links between the alleged crimes against humanity and efforts to suppress the uprising.
A total of 54 prosecution witnesses, including the father of July martyr Abu Sayed, National Citizen's Party Convener Nahid Islam, and journalist Mahmudur Rahman, have testified in the case. These witnesses were cross-examined by Advocate Amir Hossain, the state-appointed counsel for fugitives Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, another accused in the case, had previously pleaded guilty and became an approver.
On June 17, ICT-1 published notices in two national dailies, instructing Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender before the court by June 24. The notice stated that if they failed to comply, the trial would proceed in absentia under the tribunal's legal provisions.
The tribunal issued these notices on June 16 after acknowledging the formal charges submitted on June 1. Chief Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that Hasina and Kamal were absconding, with intelligence reports suggesting they were in India.
The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity and mass killings against Hasina, Kamal, and Abdullah Al-Mamun, based on a probe report filed by the ICT investigation agency on May 12. The tribunal framed the charges against the trio on July 10.