International Crimes Tribunal-1 has earmarked July 10 to deliver its decision on whether to frame charges against deposed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and detained former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun in a case accusing them of crimes against humanity during July-August student-led mass upsurge.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, fixed the date on Monday following hearings from both the prosecution and the defence.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam formally sought to frame charges and proceed to trial, while Amir Hossain, the state-appointed defence counsel for the absconding Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, argued for their discharge.
The sole accused in custody, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, was present in court, represented by lawyer Zayed Bin Amzad.
Earlier, on July 1, the tribunal held its first hearing on charge framing, which was broadcast live on state-run Bangladesh television(BTV).
On June 16, the tribunal had ordered public notices in Bangla and English newspapers summoning the fugitive Hasina and Kamal to surrender. As they failed to appear within seven days, the tribunal began the charge-framing hearing on July 1.
Prosecution sources say the case includes five specific charges of crimes against humanity. If charges are formally framed by late July or early August, the tribunal may begin witness testimony soon afterward.
The case was initially filed on August 5 last year after the fall of the Awami League government amid a massive student uprising, and is the first of its kind against Sheikh Hasina in the newly reconstituted International Crimes Tribunal.
Separately, Sheikh Hasina is facing two other pending cases before the tribunal — one relating to alleged enforced disappearances and killings during the Awami League’s tenure, and another over killings during a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar in 2013.
Meanwhile, trials continue at the tribunal for crimes against humanity allegedly committed by law enforcement agencies and ruling-party cadres backed by the Awami League to suppress last year’s mass uprising.