A total of 39 individuals, including nine former ministers, MPs, and senior police officials, were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday in connection with seven cases related to crimes against humanity committed during the July people’s uprising.
Among the accused is former law minister Anisul Huq, who was brought from Keraniganj Central Jail along with 13 other detainees early Sunday morning in a prison van. Ten others, including former National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) director Ziaul Ahsan, were brought in from the special prison facility in Keraniganj.
Former education minister Dipu Moni was brought to the tribunal from Kashimpur Jail along with 14 others, while Golam Dastagir Gazi, a former minister, was transported from Narayanganj Jail.
The accused include prominent former officials such as Salman F Rahman, Junaid Ahmed Palak, and several high-ranking police officers. They are implicated in seven separate cases, including the widely reported Mugdha massacre case and other atrocities committed in Narsingdi, Cox’s Bazar, and Sylhet.
These cases stem from the violent suppression of the mass uprising led by students and citizens, which culminated in the overthrow of the Awami League government on 5 August.
The accused were arrested at various times following the regime’s fall. However, the prosecution stated that since investigations into several of the cases are still ongoing, they will seek time from the tribunal in each of the pending cases.
The appearance of such high-profile former government figures before the tribunal marks a significant development in the post-uprising accountability process, as Bangladesh continues to reckon with the events that led to the collapse of the previous administration.