The prosecution has formally filed charges against 22 individuals, including former Chattogram-6 MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury and former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, in connection with a crimes against humanity case.
The case arises from the killing of six people, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Wasim, during the July-August 2024 Anti-discrimination Student Movement in Chattogram.
On Sunday, Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed submitted the charges to the registrar’s office of the International Crimes Tribunal. A hearing is expected to take place at the International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday.
Other accused in the case include former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former Chattogram City Corporation mayors AJM Nasir Uddin and Rezaul Karim, as well as Mohiuddin Bacchu, Helal Akbar, Nurul Azim Rony, Shaibal Das Suman, Mohammad Firoz, Abu Saleque, Esbarul Haque, HM Mithu, Nur Mostafa Tinu, Debashish Pal Debu, Jamir Uddin, Azizur Rahman, Imran Hasan Mahmud, Zakaria Dastagir, Mohiuddin Farhad, Suman Dey, and Touhidul Islam. All the accused are affiliated with the Awami League and its associated bodies.
The tribunal had initially set 12 April for submitting the investigation report, but the report was submitted ahead of schedule to the Chief Prosecutor. Following verification, the prosecution filed the formal charges before the tribunal.
A hearing is expected to take place before the three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
