The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) has set 23 June for recording testimony in a crimes against humanity case against Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Awami League Presidium Member Qamrul Islam over their alleged involvement during the July uprising.
The tribunal was scheduled to begin proceedings on Wednesday but adjourned the hearing after Prosecutor Abdus Sattar Palwan sought additional time.
Earlier, on 30 April, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused, formally initiating the trial.
Both Menon and Qamrul pleaded not guilty and claimed innocence when charges were read out in court.
During the charge-framing hearing on 2 March, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told the tribunal that three charges had been brought against the accused.
The prosecution alleged that the two leaders made provocative statements aimed at keeping the then government in power and, as senior leaders of the 14-party alliance, incited the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters and supported the imposition of curfew during the movement.
It was further alleged that, as part of a coordinated plan, law enforcement agencies opened fire on demonstrators in Badda and other areas of the capital.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury filed a plea for discharge of the accused, which was rejected by the tribunal
The prosecution earlier submitted formal charges on 3 February, after which the tribunal took cognisance of the allegations and ordered the accused to be produced before court.
According to the case statement, the accused were linked to two incidents of alleged crimes against humanity in Badda and adjoining areas of Dhaka during the 2024 July-August uprising, in which 23 people were reportedly killed.
Both Menon and Qamrul were arrested following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August, 2024, and have remained in custody since then.
