The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) will initiate trial procedures tomorrow (Thursday) in connection with genocide and crimes against humanity committed in July-August during the student-led mass movement that toppled Sheikh Hasina-led autocratic regime.
Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the ICT confirmed the matter while talking to media after paying a courtesy call on the newly appointed chairman and its two members at the tribunal building in Dhaka on Tuesday.
The move aimed to expedite the trials for crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the July-August uprising by Sheikh Hasina and her government.
Sources said that the ICT will begin trial procedures regarding cases and petitions filed against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who herself had set up the ICT to try opposition leaders over 1971 issue. Now the Awami League president is going to be trialed by the own tribunal she had set up for crimes against humanity.
Several petitions have already been submitted to the ICT to investigate allegations of genocide against Sheikh Hasina.
Hinting at this point, Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam, said, “We will file several petitions with the tribunal on Thursday.” He, however, declined to speak on the petitions in detail.
He emphasised that the trial of individuals involved in crimes against humanity during the uprising would be prioritised.
It was known that the prosecution team will seek arrest warrant against accused of July-August genocide. Besides, travel ban will also be sought so that the accused cannot leave the country. Cooperation from the Interpol will also be sought to bring the fugitives including Sheikh Hasina back to the country from abroad.
Earlier, Advocate Tajul Islam said that the main accused in most of the genocide cases Sheikh Hasina,will be brought back to the country and tried before the tribunal.
Meanwhile, Law Adviser Professor Dr Asif Nazrul has said journalists implicated in the killings related to the anti-discrimination student movement will face prosecution in the ICT.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the renovation of the tribunal's main building on Tuesday, Dr Nazrul said: "Following the proper legal procedures and thorough analysis, the prosecution team will take steps to bring the journalists to trial. I can assure you that guilty journalists will also be prosecuted, but it will be a fair trial."
He emphasized the government’s commitment to justice for the incidents of murder and genocide associated with the student movement.
Talking to media on Tuesday, Advocate Tajul Islam informed the media that a reception would be accorded to the chairman and two members of the tribunal today (Wednesday).
The government on Monday constituted the three-member tribunal headed by Additional Judge of the High Court Justice Md Golam Mostafa Majumder. The other members of the tribunal are-- Additional Judge of the High Court Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Retired District and Sessions Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury. A gazette notification was issued in this regard.
Justice Golam Mostafa Majumder and Justice Shafiul Alam Mahmud are among the 23 additional judges appointed to the High Court on October 8.
This followed the government’s decision last month to reform both the prosecution team and the investigation agency of the tribunal.
Earlier on September 5, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam was appointed the Chief Prosecutor of the ICT. Five other prosecutors are-- Advocate Md Mizanul Islam, Advocate Gazi Monwarul Hussain Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud and Abdullah Al Noman and Md Saimum Reza Talukder.
Besides, a 10-member investigative team, headed by former Additional Deputy Inspector General (Additional-DIG) of Police Md Mazaharul Haque, was also formed to investigate the allegations submitted to the ICT.
More than 60 allegations of mass killing and crime against humanity-committed from July 5 to August 5 have been submitted before ICT investigation agency and prosecution team, targeting Hasina and her party men.
Sheikh Hasina fled the country on August 5 in the wake of student-led mass upsurge. Later, Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus took over as the chief of the interim government.
A total of 1500 students and people embraced martyrdom allegedly by the members of law and order enforcement agencies and Awami League cadres during the 36-day long movement.
Over 500 people have been crippled when members of the law enforcement agencies and Awami League cadres opened fire on the agitating people. A total of 23,000 people were also injured at that time, many of them are also undergoing treatment at different health facilities.
