The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 has set 12 January to deliver its order on framing charges against Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former law minister Anisul Haque in a case over alleged crimes against humanity.
The date was fixed after the tribunal concluded hearings from both the prosecution and the defence. The three-member judicial panel, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order on Tuesday following the conclusion of arguments.
Earlier, prosecutors alleged that the two accused conspired to incite the use of lethal weapons to suppress the July mass uprising. As part of their submission, the prosecution played audio recordings of alleged telephone conversations between Salman F Rahman and Anisul Haque, claiming the discussions demonstrated their role in encouraging violence against protesters.
The defence rejected the allegations, denying the authenticity of the recordings and requesting verification by foreign forensic experts. The tribunal dismissed the request. Senior advocate Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury represented the accused during the hearings.
According to the prosecution, five charges have been brought against the two, including conspiracy and involvement in systematic attacks carried out using lethal weapons.
Prosecutors alleged that Awami League-affiliated groups carried out violent assaults during the uprising, resulting in the deaths of 14 people in Mirpur and a further 16 in Mirpur Sections 2, 10 and 13 on 5 August. The accused, the prosecution said, failed to take steps to prevent the violence.
The tribunal also heard audio recordings allegedly made during the uprising, in which the accused were allegedly heard discussing the use of lethal force against demonstrators. The prosecution argued that such statements amounted to incitement and played a role in the killings.
Prosecution hearings concluded on 22 December, after which the tribunal heard arguments from the defence. The tribunal formally took cognisance of the charges on 4 December.
Salman F Rahman and Anisul Haque were detained on 13 August from Dhaka’s Sadarghat area following the collapse of the Awami League government on 5 August, 2024, amid a student-led mass uprising. They were later shown arrested in connection with the crimes against humanity case.
