The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 has set 23 November for submission of the investigation report against former army officers Lieutenant General (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury and Major (retd) Mozaffar Hossain over allegations of crimes against humanity committed in Feni during the July uprising.
The tribunal on Wednesday passed the order after the prosecution sought more time to complete the investigation.
Prosecutor Zahirul Amin told the tribunal that investigators had made progress but needed additional time to complete the probe. Following the hearing, the tribunal fixed 23 November for submission of the report.
Masud Uddin was arrested from his residence in Baridhara DOHS on the night of 23 March in connection with allegations of crimes against humanity during the July uprising. The investigation agency has already questioned him for a day.
The prosecution has alleged that Masud Uddin was among the influential figures who exercised de facto control during the military-backed caretaker government that came to power following the political crisis of 11 January 2007.
It has also alleged that he was involved in human rights abuses during that period and had links to various activities of the government led by Sheikh Hasina. Prosecutors further allege that he was involved in efforts to suppress the July-August movement.
Masud Uddin was serving as GOC of the Bangladesh Army’s 9th Infantry Division when the caretaker government assumed office on 11 January 2007. He was promoted from major general to lieutenant general later that year.
He subsequently entered electoral politics and was elected from Feni-3 as a Jatiya Party candidate in both the 2018 and 2024 parliamentary elections.
Meanwhile, Major (retd) Mozaffar Hossain, an accused in the murder case of former president Ziaur Rahman, was arrested from a residence in Banani on the night of 15 July after remaining a fugitive for nearly 45 years.
He was handed over to military police at Dhaka Cantonment the following day.
On 23 July, the tribunal showed him arrested in the crimes-against-humanity case following a prosecution petition. He remains in military custody under the tribunal’s order.
The prosecution has alleged that Mozaffar received protection from the Awami League government despite being a long-standing fugitive in the Ziaur Rahman murder case.
According to prosecutors, he travelled between countries and moved freely in Bangladesh while maintaining contact with officials of the then government. They also alleged that he lived in affluent areas of Dhaka.
The prosecution has claimed that such access to senior government officials indicated possible government patronage, though these allegations remain subject to investigation and judicial scrutiny.
Investigators said they have found preliminary information suggesting Mozaffar’s alleged involvement in incidents being investigated as crimes against humanity during the Awami League’s tenure.
Investigation sources also said Mozaffar maintained regular communication with Masud Uddin during the killings in Feni amid the July uprising. Investigators are examining the alleged links between the two men in connection with the Feni violence and other incidents under investigation.
