The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 concluded placing their arguments on Thursday in a case against three persons including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over their alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July Mass Uprising.
At the end of prosecution arguments, Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the 3 members’ panel of the tribunal, adjourned the hearing till 20 October. The defence is scheduled to start placing their arguments on that day, reports BSS.
ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam placed the arguments for the prosecution, presenting different documentaries made on July Mass Uprising, audio records of the telephonic conversations between Sheikh Hasina and different persons, among other things, before the court.
He also referred to testimonies of different prosecution witnesses and placed links between the crimes against humanity committed to suppress Mass Uprising in ‘systematic way’.
Earlier, a total of 54 prosecution witnesses- including the father of July martyr Abu Sayed, National Citizen’s Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam and journalist Mahmudur Rahman- testified in the case and were cross-examined by the defence counsel.
Advocate Amir Hossain, the state-appointed counsel for fugitives Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined the witnesses. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, another accused in the case, had earlier pleaded guilty and became an approver.
On 17 June, ICT-1 published notices in 2 national dailies asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender before the court by 24 June.
“As per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure, 2010 (Amendment 2025), they are ordered to surrender before this tribunal on 24 June, 2025. Otherwise, the trial will proceed in absentia under Section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the notice said.
The tribunal issued the notices on 16 June after taking cognizance of the formal charges submitted on 1 June. Chief Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that Hasina and Kamal were
absconding, citing intelligence reports suggesting that they were in India.
The prosecution brought 5 charges of crimes against humanity and mass killings against Hasina, Kamal and Abdullah Al-Mamun, based on a probe report filed by the ICT investigation agency on 12 May. The tribunal framed the charges against the trio on 10 July.
