The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has scheduled 21 January to decide whether to formally frame charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former ICT affairs adviser to deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak in a case regarding crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, set the date after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence on Thursday.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution, while Liton Ahmed argued for the accused Palak and lawyer Manjur Alam defended the fugitive Joy.
Earlier, on 11 January, the chief prosecutor had argued in favour of proceeding with charges against the two accused.
According to the charges, they are accused of ordering and implementing a nationwide internet shutdown during the uprising, an action allegedly that facilitated crimes against humanity.
The prosecution claimed that Joy issued instructions to shut down the internet during the mass uprising, while Palak executed the orders. They sought formal charges to proceed with the trial.
The defence denied the allegations.
Palak’s lawyer argued that the directive to suspend internet services came from the Ministry of Home Affairs, not from Palak, who, according to the lawyer, attempted to prevent unrest and contain misinformation through dialogue.
Joy remains absconding, while Palak, who is in custody, was produced before the tribunal from jail for the hearing. The tribunal’s investigation agency had submitted its probe report against the two on 3 December, 2025.
On 4 December, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking cognisance of the formal charges filed against Joy and Palak.
So far, three charges have been brought against Joy and Palak in connection with the events of the July uprising.
