The International Crimes Tribunal, for the first time, granted bail in a case filed over crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising. A three-member tribunal, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, granted bail to an accused on Sunday.
This accused is ICT Humayun Kabir Patwary, president of the now-defunct Awami League’s Lakshmipur Sadar upazila unit and former chairman of Charruhita Union Parishad in Sadar upazila.
The bail application was filed on the grounds that the accused, Patwary, is suffering from liver cirrhosis. During the hearing, the defence stated that two of the accused’s brothers had already died from the same disease.
Prosecutor Md Mizanul Islam said a medical report on the critical illness had been submitted. It is very difficult to oppose such a bail application. However, he requested that the accused must not be allowed to communicate with any other accused in crimes against humanity cases.
Tribunal granted the bail application with conditions.
The conditions include – the accused must provide his residential address; he cannot make any statements to the media or on social media; he cannot change his residence without informing the investigation officer and the tribunal registrar; and he must not influence any evidence or witnesses.
If any of these conditions are violated, the investigation officer can arrest the accused immediately. Humayun Kabir Patwary was arrested in August 2024 after the Awami League was ousted from power during the mass uprising.
