The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Sunday took into formal cognisance charges of crimes against humanity against 11 individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the death of Teknaf municipality councillor Ekramul Haque in a “crossfire” incident.
The tribunal issued arrest warrants for eight of the accused, including Sheikh Hasina, while directing that the remaining three be produced before the court. The court has scheduled the next hearing for the case on 25 August.
The accused in the case include former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader, and former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
Other high-ranking officials named are Brigadier General Md Mahbub Alam, Brigadier General Miftah Uddin, who is currently serving in the army, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, who is on leave preparatory to retirement, Major Ruhul Amin, and army official Nazmus Sakib.
The list of the 11 accused is completed by former member of parliament Abdur Rahman Bodi and army official Ashiqur Rahman.
Among these individuals, Abdur Rahman Bodi, Colonel Anwar Latif Khan, and Brigadier General Md Mahabub Alam are already detained in connection with other cases. Accordingly, the tribunal has ordered that these three be produced in court, while arrest warrants have been issued for the other eight accused persons.
Earlier on Sunday, the prosecution submitted the report before the ICT-2, chaired by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury.
The case pertains to death of Ekramul Haque, a veteran three-term councillor for Teknaf municipality and former head of the Teknaf upazila Jubo League, who was killed during an anti-drug operation on the night of 26 May 2018.
The incident took place in Noakhalipara area of Marine Drive and was officially reported by authorities as a death resulting from a gunfight.
However, the victim’s wife, Ayesha Begum, challenged the official narrative, asserting that her husband had been murdered in a “cold-blooded” manner rather than in a genuine exchange of fire.
Seeking a judicial inquiry, Ayesha Begum held a press conference in Cox’s Bazar on 31 May 2018, where she released mobile phone recordings she claimed were captured during the incident.
These audio files, which appeared to feature the sound of a weapon’s trigger clicking followed by gunfire and audible groans of a man, attracted significant public concern and raised serious doubts regarding official account of the operation.
