The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Monday fixed 9 April to deliver its order on framing charges against Rashed Khan Menon and Qamrul Islam for alleged crimes against humanity during the July-August mass uprising.
The court deferred the order which was previously scheduled to be delivered today following a hearing on 11 March.
Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Bangladesh Workers Party and a former minister, and Qamrul Islam, a member of the Awami League Presidium, are accused of involvement in two incidents of crimes against humanity, including the killing of 23 people.
Both individuals have been in prison since their arrest following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024. The prosecution filed formal charges against the duo on 3 February, which the tribunal took into cognizance before ordering their appearance.
During the charge framing hearing conducted on 2 March, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam stated that the accused provided various provocations to sustain the government of Sheikh Hasina.
He argued that as top-ranking leaders of the then-government and the 14-party alliance, they incited the use of lethal weapons and the imposition of curfews against unarmed students and the public.
The prosecution further alleged that their continuous conspiracy led to shootings against protesters in several areas, including Badda in the capital.
While the chief prosecutor sought the formal commencement of the trial, defence counsel Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury submitted an application seeking the discharge of the accused from the charges.
