July Massacre: ‘Joy, Palak named masterminds’
Staff Reporter :
Sajeeb Wajed Joy, son of ousted ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak have been identified as key masterminds behind the killings during the July Uprising, said International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.
The remarks were made during a press briefing at the tribunal premises on Wednesday, following the prosecution’s opening statement in a case concerning crimes against humanity.
The prosecution presented detailed arguments, describing Joy and Palak as orchestrators of atrocities committed during the 2024 mass uprising.
The tribunal has scheduled 25 February to record the testimony of the first witness, moving the trial from preliminary arguments to the evidentiary phase.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam alleged that the accused leveraged control over the nation’s ICT infrastructure to enforce a total internet blackout.
The prosecution argued this was a calculated move to facilitate widespread killings while keeping the events hidden from global scrutiny.
The case also mentions alleged conspiracies involving former adviser to the Prime Minister Salman F Rahman.
According to the prosecution, Palak coordinated with Salman to plan the state’s response to student-led protests, which resulted in multiple fatalities.
Earlier, on 21 January, a three-member ICT-1 bench led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder framed charges against Joy and Palak, fixing 18 February for opening statements and witness examination.
Palak, currently in custody, was produced before the tribunal, while Joy, absconding, is being represented by state-appointed lawyer Manjur Alam.
The prosecution has brought three charges, including incidents in Dhaka’s Badda, Uttara, Rampura, and Khilgaon on 18, 19, and 24 July, during which several people—including Gongacharan Rajbongshi, Rasel, Hasib, and Mosleh Uddin—were killed and many others injured.
The prosecution further alleged that Joy and Palak incited crimes by ordering internet shutdowns and facilitating the use of drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons.
A recorded phone conversation between Palak and Salman F Rahman regarding the internet blackout was cited as evidence linking the accused to the alleged crimes.