Investigating Officer Ahmed Naser Uddin Mohammed on Sunday testified against seven accused individuals, including former minister Obaidul Quader, in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) recorded the deposition of the prosecution witness on 19 April. During the proceedings, Naser Uddin presented the evidence seized during the investigation, detailing the specific dates and times of each seizure.
As the testimony was not concluded, the tribunal adjourned the hearing until Monday, 20 April.
Prosecutor Farook Ahmed conducted the hearing on behalf of the prosecution, assisted by Prosecutor Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, Sohidul Islam Sardar, and others.
To date, 25 individuals – including eyewitnesses, members of martyr families, and the injured – have testified as witnesses in the case.
On 22 January, charges were framed against the seven accused.
Besides Obaidul Quader, the other defendants are AFM Bahauddin Nasim, joint general secretary of the Awami League; Mohammad Ali Arafat, former state minister for information; Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, president of Jubo League; Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, general secretary of Jubo League; and Saddam Hussain and Sheikh Wali Asif Enan, respectively the president and general secretary of the proscribed terrorist organisation, Bangladesh Chhatra League.
The court had issued arrest warrants against the seven individuals on 18 December last year after taking the formal charges into cognisance. As law enforcement agencies were unable to arrest the suspects, the state appointed defence lawyers at public expense.
Under current laws, there is no legal bar to conducting the trial in the absence of the accused.
According to the prosecution, Obaidul Quader was a highly influential minister who, as General Secretary of the Awami League, played a critical role in the planning, instruction, and implementation of the genocide that occurred in Bangladesh during July and August.
Other leaders, specifically Bahauddin Nasim and Mohammad Ali Arafat, were allegedly directly involved in facilitating these killings.
The prosecution further stated that the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League acted as auxiliary forces alongside the police and other security agencies. These groups allegedly participated in direct attacks to suppress the student-led mass movement through brutal killings, torture, and maiming.
The prosecution clarified that Obaidul Quader and the other top-tier leaders have been charged under the principle of “command responsibility” due to their positions within their respective organisations.
It is alleged that the accused collectively issued orders and provocative speeches to suppress the movement, calling upon party activists to mount resistance on the streets.
The prosecution claims they planned violence across multiple meetings, participated in armed attacks, and played roles in severe crackdowns and the control of mass media.
These coordinated actions resulted in nationwide killings, attempted murders, and widespread violence, which the prosecution maintains constitute punishable crimes against humanity.
