The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday concluded the recording of testimonies in the case concerning crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising against seven individuals, including Obaidul Quader, a minister of the fallen Awami League government.
The tribunal has fixed 17 May for the commencement of arguments in the case.
A total of 26 witnesses, including the investigation officer (IO) Ahmed Naser Uddin Mohammad, testified on behalf of the prosecution. The cross-examination of the IO was completed on Monday by state-appointed defence lawyers Lokman Howlader and Ishrat Jahan.
The IO’s testimony had originally commenced on 19 April.
Prosecutor Farooq Ahmad conducted the hearing for the prosecution, assisted by Abdus Sobhan Tarafdar and Abdus Satter Palowan, among others. Charges were previously framed against the seven accused on 22 January.
Alongside Obaidul Quader, the other defendants in the case are AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Joint General Secretary of the now-banned Awami League; Mohammad Ali Arafat, former State Minister for Information; Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, President of Jubo League; Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, General Secretary of Jubo League; Saddam Hussain, President of the banned terrorist organisation Chhatra League; and Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, General Secretary of Chhatra League.
The tribunal had issued arrest warrants against the seven on 18 December last year after taking the formal charges into cognisance.
As law enforcement agencies were unable to apprehend the suspects, the state appointed lawyers at the government’s expense to represent them, as there is no legal bar to conducting a trial in absentia.
According to the prosecution, Obaidul Quader was an influential minister who played a pivotal role as the General Secretary of the Awami League in the planning, ordering, and implementation of the genocide that occurred in July and August 2024.
Other leaders, specifically Bahauddin Nasim and Mohammad Ali Arafat, were directly involved in facilitating these killings.
The prosecution further alleged that during the uprising, the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League acted as auxiliary forces alongside the police and other agencies. These organisations participated directly in brutal attacks to suppress the student-led movement through killings, torture, and mutilation.
Consequently, Obaidul Quader has been charged under the principle of command responsibility. The other accused, all of whom held top leadership positions within their respective organisations, have also been charged under the same principle of command responsibility.
