The International Crimes Tribunal-2 has taken cognisance of formal charges of crimes against humanity against seven people, including Awami League leader Amir Hossain Amu, in a case over crimes allegedly committed during the July uprising.
The tribunal has also issued an arrest warrant against fugitive accused Mirza Azam, an organising secretary of the Awami League.
However, it set 22 November for the next hearing.
Earlier, the prosecution filed an application seeking the tribunal’s acceptance of the formal charges. Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim represented the prosecution at the hearing.
Apart from Amu and Mirza Azam, the other accused are former shipping minister Shajahan Khan, former civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, former agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, former adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Taufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, and former minister Dipu Moni.
On 2 November, the prosecution submitted formal charges against the seven accused to the registrar’s office of the International Crimes Tribunal.
After reviewing the investigation report, the prosecution presented it to the tribunal as formal charges.
The accused have been charged with crimes against humanity, including attacks and incitement aimed at suppressing the July-August mass uprising led by students and the public.
According to the prosecution, the accused, who held key policymaking positions in the then Awami League government, played roles in decisions to suppress the movement.
The prosecution alleged that they attended meetings of the 14-party alliance and were involved in political decisions, the imposition of curfews, and plans to use the curfew as a means of carrying out killings.
The prosecution has also brought charges against the accused under the principle of superior command responsibility.
