The hearing on charge framing against seven accused, including deposed minister Obaidul Quader, in the case of crimes against humanity during the July uprising, will be held on 18 January.
The order was given by the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT) on Thursday, 8 January. Additionally, as the accused have not appeared or been arrested, an order has been given to appoint lawyers for them at state expense. Prosecutor Faruk Ahmad was present for the prosecution in court.
The other accused in the case besides Obaidul Quader are the Awami League’s joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nihkil, Chhatra League’s President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
Previously, on 18 December, the court, upon accepting the prosecution’s formal charge, issued arrest warrants against seven individuals, including Obaidul Quader. After hearing the prosecution’s application that day, the tribunal issued this order.
Law enforcement agencies were instructed to arrest and present these accused to the court. As law enforcement agencies have not been able to arrest them, the tribunal ordered a public notice in newspapers for them to appear. Even after this, as they have not been arrested or appeared, lawyers have been appointed at state expense to conduct the case on their behalf. There is no legal obstacle to holding the trial in the absence of the accused.
According to the prosecution, Obaidul Quader was an influential minister of the government and, as the general secretary of Awami League, played a significant role in the planning, ordering, and execution of the genocide that occurred during the uprising.
Simultaneously, other leaders of his party, especially Bahauddin Nasim and Arafat, were directly involved throughout the entire process and facilitated these killings. During that time, alongside police or other forces, Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League participated directly in attacks as auxiliary forces and committed killings, perpetrated torture, and inflicted mutilations to brutally suppress the movement.
The prosecution states that for these reasons, Obaidul Quader has been made an accused in this case due to command responsibility. Others who have been made accused are all top leaders of their respective organisations; they have been included as accused due to that command responsibility.
