International Crimes Tribunal‑1 has indicted Salman F Rahman, former adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former law minister Anisul Huq in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising last year.
Through this order, the trial against the two accused has officially begun.
The three‑member ICT‑1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, set 10 February for opening statements and the start of witness testimony in the case. The tribunal rejected their pleas seeking discharge from the charges.
At today’s indictment hearing, the accused claimed innocence and appealed to the court for justice.
Five charges have been brought against the two, including conspiracy and involvement in systematic attacks carried out using lethal weapons.
According to the prosecution, the two accused conspired to incite use of lethal weapons to suppress the July mass uprising. The prosecution played audio recordings of alleged telephone conversations between Salman and Anisul, claiming the discussions demonstrated their role in encouraging violence against protesters.
Prosecutors alleged that Awami League-affiliated groups carried out violent assaults during the uprising, resulting in the deaths of 14 people in Mirpur and a further 16 in Mirpur Sections 2, 10 and 13 on 5 August. The accused, the prosecution said, failed to take steps to prevent the violence.
Prosecution hearings concluded on 22 December, after which the tribunal heard arguments from the defence. The tribunal formally took cognisance of the charges on 4 December.
Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq were detained on 13 August from Dhaka’s Sadarghat area following the fall of Awami League government on 5 August 2024, amid a student-led mass uprising. They were later shown arrested in connection with the crimes against humanity case.
