The prosecution has brought five charges of crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising against former prime minister’s adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq before the International Crimes Tribunal.
On Monday, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam presented arguments in support of the charges at International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder.
The first charge accuses Salman and Anisul of imposing a curfew to suppress the movement and using lethal weapons against students and the general public through then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and leaders of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance.
By ordering the killing and elimination of protesters, the two allegedly instigated, incited and assisted crimes against humanity by directing law enforcement agencies under their control and subordinate armed members of the Awami League to carry out the actions.
The other four charges were said to be committed in a similar pattern.
Under the Tribunal Act, each of the charges constitutes crimes against humanity and carries the death penalty or any other punishment, depending on the gravity of the offence.
During Monday’s hearing, the chief prosecutor said lethal weapons were used to suppress the mass uprising through conspiracy and systematic attacks. According to the prosecution, AL militants carried out attacks using lethal weapons. Fourteen people were killed in Mirpur, while 16 others were killed on 5 August in Mirpur Sections 2, 10 and 13. The prosecution alleged that the accused took no measures to prevent these incidents.
Tajul Islam also told the tribunal that audio recordings of telephone conversations between Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq during the mass uprising were played in court.
The recordings allegedly show them discussing the use of lethal weapons. In one recording, Anisul Huq is heard telling Salman F Rahman that the protesters must be “finished”. The prosecution argued that these remarks amounted to instigation for the killings.
Following the prosecution’s hearing, 4 January has been set for the defence hearing. On that day, the tribunal will also hear the defence petition seeking discharge from the charges.
Earlier, on 4 December, the tribunal took the charges against Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq into cognisance.
Police said that following the fall of the Awami League government amid the mass uprising last year, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq were detained from the Sadarghat area of Dhaka on 13 August. They were later shown arrested in connection with charges of crimes against humanity.
