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Anisul Huq and 17 others are brought to the tribunal jail in handcuffs and taken to the tribunal dock around noon
Published : 20 Apr 2025, 05:34 PM
An investigating agency says it has found initial evidence of organised “crimes against humanity” during the July Uprising against Awami League General Secretary and former minister Obaidul Quader and 44 others.
Chief Prosecutor Advocate M Tajul Islam presented the finding to the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday.
He asked for three more months to submit the investigation report in the case, and the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Murtaza Mozumder granted it.
During the hearing, Tajul said that the tribunal had issued arrest warrants against 45 people, including Quader, in the case. Of the suspects, 18 are in custody while the rest are absconding.
“The investigation agency visited the scene of the crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising and recorded the statements of eyewitnesses, the injured, the family members of martyrs and locals. In addition, it reviewed the videos recorded on the mobile phones of the people present at the scene, reports and video clips published in print and electronic media, and medical records from the hospital.”
He said, “Members of different law enforcing agencies, cadres of various organisations of the Awami League and the 14-party Alliance and the ‘helmet force’ attacked and shot at the protesting students and public with local weapons and various firearms, killing and injuring them.”
“During the protests, these suspects gave orders and made provocative statements. In addition, their associates incited them to commit crimes against humanity by making offensive statements on various posts on social media and talk shows. The investigation agency has also reviewed them.”
The chief prosecutor said, “After reviewing this information and data, the investigation agency has obtained preliminary evidence of crimes against humanity against 45 people, including suspect Obaidul Quader.”
Explaining the reason for seeking an extension on the deadline, he said: “Fifteen hundred people were killed and 25,000 were injured in the crimes against humanity committed. There are over a thousand witnesses to these incidents. Their statements have been recorded. There are more than a thousand video clips. Because of this, we need three more months to submit the investigation report."
After the hearing, the court granted the extension and set Jul 20 as the date for submitting the report.
Eighteen people arrested in the case and in jail were produced before the tribunal today.
They are: former ministers Anisul Huq, Faruk Khan, Dipu Moni, Abdur Razzak, Shajahan Khan, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Amir Hossain Amu, Kamrul Islam, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, former advisors Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury and Salman F Rahman, former state ministers Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former MP Solaiman Salim, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, retired judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.
On Oct 17, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against 45 people, including Quader, in this case over crimes against humanity.
