The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has asked the prosecution to complete its investigation within one month in two cases filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others over the killings and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising.
Sheikh Hasina is the sole accused in one of the two cases while 45 people, including former roads and highways minister Obaidul Quader, are accused in the other case.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, issued the order on Monday after hearing in the two case in presence of 13 accused. All the accused could not be produced before the court as most of them remain absconding.
The ICT also ordered the prosecution to submit a report on Sheikh Hasina’s arrest by December 17 and sent the 13 accused to jail after they were produced before it.
At the beginning of the hearing, the ICT inquired about Sheikh Hasina’s whereabouts. In response, ICT Chief Prosecutor Advocate Md Tajul Islam told the court that Sheikh Hasina fled to India after the fall of her government. Efforts are underway to bring her back through Interpol and the extradition treaty with India, he said.
On October 17, the ICT began the judicial process by issuing warrant for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina and 45 others for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity. The ICT also in an order directed the authorities concerned to produce the accused before the court on 18 November.
This is for the first time that any accused in the two cases have been brought to the tribunal. Security was beefed up in the tribunal area since Monday morning due to the presence of so many ‘VIP accused’ at a time. Members of law enforcement agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Bangladesh Police, were deployed in the tribunal area. They were in uniform and plainclothes.
The 13 accused include former law minister Anisul Huq, former civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan, Worker's Party President Rashed Khan Menon, former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former state minister for post, telecommunication and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former energy adviser to former PM Hasina Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, former social welfare minister Dipu Moni, former private industry and investment adviser to former PM Hasina Salman F Rahman, former shipping minister Shajahan Khan, former state minister of Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former minister of textiles and jute Golam Dastagir Gazi, former Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.
Former agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzaque arrested in another case could not be produced before the court as he is in the custody of Mirzapur Police Station in Tangail where he was taken for remand.
The tribunal ordered the prosecution to take steps for producing Dr Abdur Razzaque along with the remaining accused on the next date for hearing.
The 13 high-profile accused were brought to the tribunal in three separate prison vans. Golam Dastagir Gazi was brought first around 9:45am from Narayanagj jail. Dr Dipu Moni, former education minister, was brought alone 10 minutes later in another prison van, while the remaining 11 were brought together at 10:02am.
The accused were brought to the makeshift courtroom of the tribunal at 10:45am, and all but Dipu Moni were made to enter into the dock. She was allowed sit in a chair outside the dock with some policewomen standing beside her.
The tribunal started its proceedings at 11:00am and after holding hearing in a case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, it started hearing in this case.
Chief Prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam in his plea said the arrestees abetted Sheikh Hasina in committing killings, genocides and crimes against humanity during the July-August student-led mass uprising.
“Some of them had abetted Hasina under her superior command responsibility, while many had individual responsibility. People like Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Mohammad A Arafat, Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak had individual responsibilities over the crimes,” he said.
The Chief Prosecutor further said all the accused played their individual role in continuing the genocide to help Sheikh Hasina’s regime to retain power. Despite being a part of such barbarism, they had no remorse, Tajul Islam added.
Deputy Attorney Generals Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud and Abdullah Al Noman were present during the hearing.
