The International Crimes Tribunal-2 is set to hold a hearing on Sunday on framing charges against 11 people, including former MP Abdur Rahman Bodi, in the case over the death of Teknaf municipal councillor Ekramul Haque in an alleged gunfight in 2018.
The hearing is scheduled for 27 September following a prosecution plea seeking time.
The tribunal fixed the date on 24 September.
Four of the accused – former MP Bodi, Brig Gen Miftah Uddin Ahmed, Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam and former Rab director general Anwar Latif Khan – are currently in jail after being arrested in connection with the case.
The remaining accused are absconding.
They are former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, Major Ruhul Amin, and army officers Nazmus Sakib and Ashikur Rahman.
On 7 September, the tribunal ordered the appointment of state-appointed defence counsel to represent the absconding accused.
According to the prosecution, Ekramul was picked up from a road in the Kirontoli area of Teknaf at around 10:30pm on 26 May 2018.
The prosecution alleges that between 11pm and midnight, he was killed in a staged gunfight with members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) near the sea beach adjacent to Marine Drive in Noakhaliapara of Teknaf Sadar Union.
Ekramul was a councillor of Ward 3 of Teknaf municipality and president of the upazila unit of Jubo League at the time of his death.
The prosecution has brought charges of unlawful detention and abduction, staging a gunfight and killing Ekramul by shooting him. It has also accused the defendants of involvement in, instigation of, assistance to, and ordering of the alleged killing.
The investigation agency and prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal have alleged that the killing constituted a crime against humanity.
The prosecution formally submitted the allegations to the registrar’s office of the International Crimes Tribunal on 26 July. Following a hearing the same day, the tribunal took cognisance of the case against all 11 accused, including Sheikh Hasina.
