The International Crimes Tribunal-1 is set to begin recording testimonies on Sunday, in the trial of two top officials of the ousted Awami League government facing charges of crimes against humanity.
The first witness will be produced for deposition against Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and ex-law minister Anisul Huq.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim shared this information with journalists on Saturday. Earlier, on 9 February, the tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, fixed the date for the commencement of testimony following the conclusion of the prosecution’s opening statements.
On 12 January, the tribunal formally initiated the trial by framing five charges against the two high-profile accused. The prosecution alleges that both individuals were involved in planned and systematic violence aimed at suppressing the 2024 mass uprising.
The charges state that a conspiracy was hatched to use lethal weapons against protesters, and armed workers of the then-ruling party carried out attacks in various locations. Specifically, the prosecution has highlighted killings in the capital’s Mirpur area, claiming that a total of 30 people were killed across several incidents there.
Prosecution argued that despite holding responsible positions within the government, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq failed to take any effective measures to prevent the violence.
According to the prosecution, recorded telephone conversations presented to the court provide evidence of discussions regarding the use of lethal weapons.
One such conversation allegedly included a remark that the protesters must be “finished off,” which the prosecution contends served as incitement for the killings.
The defence, however, has denied all allegations. They argued that the evidence presented is not legally admissible and claimed that the charges are politically motivated.
Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq were detained by police in the Sadarghat area of Dhaka on 13 August 2024, following the fall of the Awami League government. They were subsequently shown arrested on charges of crimes against humanity.
The tribunal took the formal charges into cognizance on 4 December.
