Staff Reporter :
In a significant development surrounding the alleged crimes against humanity committed during last year’s political turmoil, a total of 39 accused including nine former ministers were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday.
Early Sunday morning, 14 accused, including former Law Minister Anisul Huq, were brought to the tribunal from the Keraniganj Central Jail under tight security.
Another 10 accused, including former NTMC Director Ziaul Ahsan, were produced from the Keraniganj Special Prison.
An additional 15, including former Minister Dipu Moni, were brought from Kashimpur Jail, while former Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi was produced from Narayanganj Jail.
Among those produced were several high-profile figures, including Salman F Rahman, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and other former ministers, MPs, and senior police officials.
They face charges in seven separate murder cases linked to the July-August uprising, which ultimately led to the fall of the Awami League government.
These tribunal appearances follow a series of arrests over the past year targeting former cabinet members, MPs, and top bureaucrats. The prosecution has sought additional time to complete the investigations into all related cases, citing their scale and complexity
The International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, has ordered investigators to complete the probe within three months and submit a full report by 15 October. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam moved the petition for additional time on Sunday.
Apart from Anisul Huq, Dipu Moni, Amir Hossain Amu, Salman F Rahman, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, other notable accused include Faruk Khan, Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan Khan, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Kamrul Islam, former Prime Minister’s Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, JASAD President Hasanul Haq Inu, former Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, and former Home Secretary Jahangir Alam.
Previously, on 17 December 2024, the tribunal had ordered the investigation into two related cases – naming 46 individuals including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and senior Awami League leader Obaidul Quader to be completed within two months.
That deadline has since been extended twice. The fresh directive now gives prosecutors until mid-October to submit findings in what has become one of Bangladesh’s most politically sensitive trials in recent history.
Meanwhile, during Sunday’s hearing, former minister and accused Hasanul Haq Inu alleged that intelligence officers conducted a voice test on him in prison without prior court approval, calling it a “conspiracy” with malicious intent.
Inu told the tribunal bench, “I was not shown any tribunal order during the voice test.”
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam refuted Inu’s claim, stating that the voice test was carried out with the tribunal’s permission as part of the investigation process.
“For the sake of investigation, the agency can interrogate or test the voice of any accused. The same was done in Inu’s case,” he said.
Inu reiterated before the judge, “There is a conspiracy against me. My voice was tested without any order from the court.” Prosecutor Tazul Islam responded that Inu was trying to influence the trial by speaking directly despite having legal counsel present.
In response, Tribunal Chairman Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder assured that, “In the interest of justice, we will hear the statements of the accused and their families if needed.”
The tribunal will reconvene on 15 October to review the investigation report and decide the next course of action in these landmark cases.
