Dhaka: Convener of National Citizen Party (NCP) and July Movement leader Nahid Islam today asserted that the Awami League (AL) should be brought under trial as a party promptly. He made this statement while speaking to reporters after providing testimony and undergoing cross-examination in a case concerning crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising, implicating ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three others.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Nahid emphasized the necessity of trying the Awami League as a party, citing available scopes for such legal action. He remarked, “We will also appeal to the tribunal. The tribunal has now received sufficient evidence. Sheikh Hasina, as the party chief, decided to go against the people and kill them to seize power politically and remain in power. The people overthrew her through resistance.” He further stated that the crimes committed by the Awami League were political, necessitating justice against the party as a whole.
The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, concluded Nahid Islam’s cross-examination today after he testified as the 47th witness. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, alongside Prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi SH Tamim, conducted the prosecution’s hearing, with other prosecutors present.
State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain represented the absconding accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in this case. Lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad defended former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was arrested and later became an approver in this case.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 framed charges against Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on July 10, initiating the trial for crimes against humanity. At some point, the tribunal accepted former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun’s application to become an approver, assisting in uncovering the incident’s truth by pleading guilty. He later testified as the 36th witness.
Besides this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two other cases in the tribunal, one alleging disappearances and murders during the Awami League’s rule, and another concerning killings at a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka. Numerous allegations have surfaced against the Awami League government and its affiliates for committing genocide and crimes against humanity during the suppression of the July-August 2024 student-people movement. Trials for these crimes are ongoing in two international crimes tribunals.