The recording of testimony against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former Information and Communication Technology adviser to the prime minister, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for Information and Communication Technology, has been postponed.
On Wednesday, the scheduled day for testimony recording, the prosecution was unable to produce witnesses before the court. Subsequently, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) set 3 March as the new date for the recording of testimony.
Palak’s lawyer, Liton Ahmed, confirmed the matter to TIMES of Bangladesh.
Earlier, on 18 February, the prosecution presented its opening statement before the court in this case. In the opening statement, the prosecution referred to Joy and Palak as among the masterminds of the July genocide. On 21 January, the court framed charges against the accused, marking the formal start of the trial.
According to the prosecution’s charges, the order to shut down the internet during the mass uprising came from Sajeeb Wazed Joy, with Zunaid Ahmed Palak implementing that order. The prosecution claims that these actions fall under crimes against humanity.
The defense has denied the allegations. Palak’s lawyer told the court that Palak did not order the internet shutdown and that such decisions came from the Ministry of Home Affairs. He further stated that efforts were made to resolve the issue through discussion to avoid unwanted incidents and prevent rumors.
The accused in this case, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, remains at large. Palak is currently in custody. He was produced before the tribunal from jail for the hearing. In response to the framing of charges, he claimed innocence.
On 4 December, the ICT took cognizance of the charges against Joy and Palak. On that day, an arrest warrant was issued against Joy, and the detained Palak was shown as arrested in connection with allegations of crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising.
A total of three charges have been brought against them before the tribunal.
