Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT) has framed charges against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun for crimes against humanity during last year’s July-August uprising. A three-member ICT bench, headed by the tribunal’s Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order today after rejecting a defence plea to dismiss the charges.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the other two members of the tribunal that issued the order are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Haq Enam Chowdhury. With today’s order, the formal trial against Sheikh Hasina and other defendants in the case for crimes against humanity has begun for the first time.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam appeared for the state during the hearing, while state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain represented Sheikh Hasina. Lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad appeared on behalf of former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, who was previously arrested in the case.
On June 16, Tribunal-1 ordered a notice to be published in a Bengali and an English newspaper for the appearance of the fugitive Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal before the court. The notice, published the following day, asked them to surrender within seven days. However, neither appeared before the tribunal, prompting a state-appointed lawyer to schedule a hearing for framing charges.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam requested the trial’s commencement by framing charges against the accused. Simultaneously, state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain, on behalf of Hasina and Kamal, sought the discharge of the accused from the charges. After hearing both sides, Tribunal-1 set July 10 as the date for the order on framing charges.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 took cognizance of the formal charges against ousted Sheikh Hasina on June 1 for crimes against humanity committed during the student-mass uprising in July-August last year. Along with Sheikh Hasina, the prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. The tribunal’s judicial proceedings were broadcast live on Bangladesh Television (BTV).