Former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been produced before the International Crimes Tribunal. He had turned from an accused to a state witness in the crimes against humanity case related to the July-August movement.
The deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal remain fugitives in this case.
On Thursday morning, police produced Mamun before the tribunal under tight security. He was brought from the prison in a prison van at around 9am.
The three-member judicial panel of Tribunal-1 is scheduled to set the date for the verdict announcement today. The panel is led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.
While Hasina and Kamal remain at large, Mamun has been in prison for about a year. He has given his testimony before the tribunal as a witness.
Consequently, the prosecution has left the matter of sentencing the former IGP to the tribunal’s discretion. They have simultaneously sought the maximum punishment for Sheikh Hasina and Kamal.
Previously, the testimony and cross-examination of 54 witnesses concluded over 28 working days. Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman presented the closing arguments in Sheikh Hasina’s case on 23 October.
He described to the tribunal how prime ministers and influential leaders worldwide have faced trial for crimes against humanity.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam responded to some points raised by the state-appointed defence lawyers. State Defence Lawyer Amir Hossain also provided counter-arguments to some statements.
Following this, this Thursday was scheduled for announcing the verdict date. Tribunal sources indicate the verdict could be announced any day next week.
The testimony against Sheikh Hasina and the two others began on 3 August this year. The first witness, Khokon Chandra Barman, described the horrors of July-August 2024 to the tribunal.
The testimony phase concluded on 8 October with the cross-examination of the principal investigating officer, Md Alamgir. The arguments from both sides were completed on 23 October.
The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity in this case. These include incitement, use of lethal weapons, and the murder of Abu Saeed. Other charges are the killing at Chankhar Pul and the burning of bodies in Ashulia.
The formal charges document is 8,747 pages long. This includes 2,018 pages of sources and 4,005 pages of seizure lists and documentary evidence. A further 2,724 pages detail the list of martyrs.
Eighty-four individuals have been made witnesses. The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted the report of the case to the Chief Prosecutor on 12 May.
