The International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Monday rejected a petition seeking a review of its decision to frame charges against 22 people, including former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and former lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, over alleged crimes against humanity during the July–August 2024 mass uprising in Chattogram.
The tribunal delivered the order after concluding arguments on 13 October. Lawyers Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury and Ehsanul Hoque Samaji, while Prosecutor Oli Miah appeared for the prosecution.
The tribunal had framed charges against the 22 accused on 30 June over the killing of six people, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Wasim Akram, formally opening the trial.
Five arrested accused subsequently sought reconsideration of the charge-framing order. The tribunal heard their review petition in two sessions on 21 September and 8 October.
The petitioners are former lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury and four Jubo League leaders — Azizur Rahman, Touhidul Islam, Mohammad Firoz and Debashish Pal Debu.
According to case documents, the accused are associated with the Awami League and its affiliated organisations.
The investigation agency submitted its report to the prosecution office on 2 April after completing its investigation. The prosecution subsequently scrutinised the findings and filed formal charges with the tribunal.
The prosecution brought three charges against the accused, including the killing of six people and serious injuries to more than 100 others.
The first charge concerns the killing of Md Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanta and Md Faruk in Chattogram on 16 July 2024.
The second relates to the killing of Tanvir Siddiqui, Md Saimon and Hridoy Chandra on 18 July 2024, while the third involves serious injuries inflicted on more than 100 people during the same period.
Among the absconding accused are former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury Nowfel and former Chattogram City Corporation mayors AJM Nasir Uddin and Rezaul Karim.
The other absconding accused are Mohiuddin Bachchu, Helal Akbar, Nurul Azim Roni, Shaibal Das Suman, Abu Salek, Esbarul Haque, HM Mithu, Nur Mostafa Tinu, Jamir Uddin, Imran Hasan Mahmud, Zakaria Dastagir, Mohiuddin Farhad and Suman Dey.
