July Mass Uprising had become inevitable: ICT chief prosecutor
NN ONLINE:
Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes
Tribunal (ICT) Mohammad Tajul Islam today said that the July 2024 Mass Uprising had become inevitable as the Awami League (AL) government gradually turned into a “monster” during its 15-year rule.Presenting arguments in the crimes against humanity case against three, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Tajul outlined the background that led to the mass uprising.
“The Awami League government increasingly turned into a monstrous regime over
the years,” the chief prosecutor told the three-member ICT-1 bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder. He said the process began with the Pilkhana carnage, which crippled the country’s defence backbone, followed by a culture of enforced disappearances and killings.
Later, Tajul said, the ruling party destroyed the country’s electoral system, abolished the caretaker government system, and institutionalised corruption at every level. “The regime’s ultimate goal was to suppress the people through fear and oppression,” the chief prosecutor said, adding, “This monstrous rule finally unleashed a full-scale assault on our young generation in 2024.”
Earlier, a total of 54 prosecution witnesses — including the father of July martyr Abu Sayed, National Citizen’s Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam and journalist Mahmudur Rahman– testified in the case and were cross-examined by the defence.
Advocate Amir Hossain, the state-appointed counsel for fugitives Sheikh
Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined the
witnesses. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, another accused in the case, had earlier pleaded guilty and became an approver.
On June 17, ICT-1 published notices in two national dailies asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender by June 24. “As per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure, 2010 (Amendment 2025), they are ordered to surrender before this tribunal on June 24, 2025. Otherwise, the trial will proceed in absentia under Section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the notice read.
The tribunal issued the notices on June 16 after taking cognizance of the formal charges submitted on June 1. Chief Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that Hasina and Kamal were absconding, citing intelligence reports suggesting they were in India.
The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity and mass killings against Hasina, Kamal and Abdullah Al-Mamun, based on a probe report filed by the ICT investigation agency on May 12. The tribunal framed the charges against the trio on July 10 last.