Dhaka: International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam today announced that arguments in a case of crimes against humanity against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun are set to commence soon. This development follows the testimonies of one or two more witnesses.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam spoke to reporters during a break in the testimony of the 46th witness, Daily Amar Desh editor Mahmudur Rahman. He stated, “We will appeal to the tribunal to conclude the witness examination after hearing from one or two more witnesses. I hope arguments will start shortly after that.”
The case is being heard by a three-member bench of ICT, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Mizanul Islam and Gazi MH Tamim, represented the prosecution at today’s hearing, with other members of the prosecution team also in attendance.
State-appointed lawyer Advocate Amir Hossain is defending the fugitive accused Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, while Advocate Zayed Bin Amjad represents former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. The tribunal formally framed charges against all three accused on July 10, initiating the trial.
During the proceedings, former IGP Mamun applied to become a state witness by pleading guilty. The tribunal accepted his application, presenting him as the 36th witness in the case.
In addition to this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two more cases at the ICT. One accuses her of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during her 15-and-a-half-year tenure as prime minister, while the other involves allegations of mass killings during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Square in Dhaka’s Motijheel area.