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Published : 10 Jul 2025, 01:55 PM
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered a crimes against humanity case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former inspector general of police Abdullah Al Mamun to trial for their attempts to suppress the July Uprising.
Mamun has pleaded guilty and has petitioned to turn state’s witness in the case. He is the only one of the three to be detained in jail. The trial will proceed with the other two in absentia.
A three-member tribunal bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder rejected the applications of Hasina and Kamal to be dropped from the case and indicted them.
The court has fixed Aug 3 for the opening statement from the prosecution and Aug 4 for the first testimony in the case.
A total of five charges have been brought against the three suspects, including incitement, instigation, giving orders to kill 1,400 people to suppress the movement, “superior command responsibility” and “joint criminal enterprise”.
To support the charges, the prosecution has submitted an audio tape of Hasina and testimony regarding her order to use deadly weapons on protesters.
The indictment launches the first crimes against humanity case against Hasina. It is being held in the court which her government formed to try 1971 war criminals.
State-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain was present at the hearing on behalf of Hasina and Khan. He had filed a petition to drop their names from the case.
On the other hand, former police chief Al Mamun did not file any petition seeking his immediate release from the case. Instead, he pleaded guilty and petitioned to become a public witness.
Since Mamun has pleaded guilty, his lawyer Zayed Bin Amjad filed a petition to keep him in a separate location for security reasons. The court gave assurances it would take action on the matter.
The tribunal's Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam led the prosecution at the hearing.
More to follow
