Trial opens against Obaidul Quader, 6 others; testimony on Feb 17

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the start of a trial against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six others in a crimes against humanity case. Feb 17 has been set for opening statements and the recording of witness testimony.

The order was issued on Thursday by a three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other two members of the bench are retired district and sessions judge Md Manjurul Bashid and District And Sessions Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

Besides Obaidul Quader, the other accused are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for information and broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, the youth affiliate’s General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Saddam Hossain, president of the banned Chhatra League, and its General Secretary Wali Asif Inan.

Since all the accused are absconding, the formal charges were not read out. The trial will proceed in their absence.

Prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Faruk Ahmad, Abdus Sattar Palowan and others appeared for the prosecution at the tribunal, while state-appointed lawyers Lokman Howlader and Ishrat Jahan represented the defendants.

Afterwards, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said: “The date was set for an order on framing charges against seven people, including former roads and bridges minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, over allegations of crimes against humanity during the July Mass Uprising. The tribunal has framed charges against all seven.”

“All seven are absconding. As they are fugitives, the charges could not be read out to them. Their guilt or innocence will be determined through the trial. Feb 17, 2026 has been fixed for the opening statement and the prosecution’s witnesses,” he said.

Describing the allegations, Tajul said that on Jul 14, during the July Uprising, then prime minister Sheikh Hasina made provocative remarks referring to protesters as “children of Razakars” and “grandchildren of Razakars,” which enraged demonstrators and intensified the movement.

He said Obaidul Quader subsequently endorsed the remarks and further incited and gave orders Chhatra League and Jubo League activists across the country, leading to attacks on protesters at Dhaka University and other educational institutions.

Quader said the Chhatra League alone was sufficient to suppress the movement. The orders then led to attacks on female students at Dhaka University and assaults on injured protesters undergoing treatment. The next day, on Jul 16th, Abu Sayed was martyred alongside five others, including Wasim in Chattogram, Tajul said.

The chief prosecutor said a peaceful movement sprung up nationwide as a response to such provocative statements and that indiscriminate mass killings were carried out to suppress them. The Awami League leaders accused in the case allegedly incited crimes through speeches and statements at different times during the uprising.

Tajul alleged that Arafat said the government had so many bullets that even if students were shot continuously for five years, they would not run out, and that he demeaned protesters, including Abu Sayed, by calling them drug addicts—statements that aided and incited crimes.

According to the prosecution, the Jubo League and Chhatra League, following political decisions and instructions at unit levels, used firearms and local weapons to suppress the movement, killing protesters and inflicting injuries with the intention to kill.

“The prosecution believes we have irrefutable evidence to prove the charges framed by the tribunal today,” Tajul said. “We have documentary evidence, video and audio evidence, and oral testimony, which we will present on the 17th. We are confident the prosecution will be able to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.”

The accused face allegations of killing, incitement and issuing directives to suppress the July Uprising. Tribunal-2 took cognisance of the charges on Dec 18, when the prosecution submitted the formal charge in the morning. On Jan 8, state lawyers were appointed for the absconding accused, and on Jan 18 the hearings on framing formal charges concluded.