Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today set April 6 for submitting the probe report in a case concerning crimes against humanity and genocide committed in the Jatrabari area during the student-led July-August mass uprising.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order after allowing a time extension request filed by the prosecution. “Today was fixed for submitting the probe report in the case ICT BD 5/2024. But we pleaded for two months’ time for submitting the report. Allowing our plea, the tribunal set April 6 for the report,” prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud said.
The prosecutor further detailed that two of the accused, former officer in-charge of Jatrabari Police Station Abul Hossain and former assistant commissioner of police’s Jatrabari zone Tanjil Ahmed, were present in court for today’s hearing, out of a total of six accused individuals.
Additionally, the ICT approved two separate requests filed by prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim pertaining to the seizure of various documents. Prosecutors Gazi Mizanul Islam, Abdus Subhan Tarafdar, and Saimum Reza were also present during the hearing.
The Jatrabari area, a major entry point to the capital, became a significant battlefield during the July-August mass uprising, which resulted in hundreds of protester casualties and ultimately led to the toppling of Sheikh Hasina’s nearly 16-year autocratic regime. Members of law enforcement and cadres from the then-ruling Awami League party executed some of the most brutal acts in the area to suppress the student-led movement.