The hearing on framing charges against four individuals, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, regarding allegations of crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising, will be held on 17 December.
Joy has been ordered to be present in court through a notice published in newspapers. The two-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, gave the order on Wednesday, 10 December.
The other member of the tribunal is Justice Md Shafiqul Alam Mahmud. Besides Joy, the other three accused are the former prime minister’s Private Industry and Investment adviser Salman F Rahman, law minister Anisul Huq, and state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
In the tribunal, lawyer Munsurul Haque Chowdhury represented Salman and Anisul Huq, Liton Ahmed represented Palak, and Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam represented the prosecution. Meanwhile, an application has been made to appoint foreign lawyers to fight the case for Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq. The court stated that an order on this application will be given later.
The chief prosecutor raised an objection regarding this application. He said the application was not made correctly because the Tribunal Act has provisions for appointing foreign lawyers conditionally. The condition is that prior permission must be obtained from the Bangladesh Bar Council for this.
If the Bar Council grants permission, the tribunal can grant permission to appoint foreign lawyers. Here, the defense has applied to the tribunal first without going to the Bar Council. Therefore, granting this application would not be legal. Munsurul Haque Chowdhury said the interpretation of that law is that if the tribunal’s permission is obtained for appointing foreign lawyers, then permission from the Bar Council must be obtained.
Additionally, an application was made in the tribunal for Palak to meet with his family and lawyer. Hearing that application, the tribunal ordered that arrangements be made in accordance with jail code provisions for Palak to meet and speak with his lawyer and family.
Earlier, on 4 December, the tribunal took cognizance of the charges against Joy, Palak, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq. That day, an arrest warrant was also issued against Joy.
The tribunal ordered the remaining three accused to be shown as arrested on charges of crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising. The cases against Joy and Palak are proceeding together in the tribunal. Three charges have been brought against them. Salman and Anisul are accused in the other case.
