Shyamol, Babu and Farzana to be made accused
Journalists Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Hoque Babu, and Farzana Rupa are being made accused before International Crimes Tribunal-2 over allegations of making statements opposing the movement and inciting violence during the July mass uprising. In connection with this crimes-against-humanity case, the Tribunal has ordered that journalist Shyamol Dutta and two others be produced before it on 24 August.
The single bench of Judge Md. Manjurul Bashid, a member of International Crimes Tribunal-2, issued this order on Monday. Prosecutor Farooq Ahammed argued on behalf of the prosecution before the Tribunal.
He informed the Tribunal that journalists Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Babu, and Farzana Rupa made inflammatory remarks on talk shows and other programs broadcast on various media outlets surrounding the July-August 2024 uprising.
He said the investigating agency has already found the involvement of these three journalists in its investigation into the crimes-against-humanity case filed over the incident, and therefore a production warrant is being sought against them.
If the three journalists, who are currently in jail, are produced before the Tribunal on the scheduled date, they will be formally shown as arrested in this case.
The prosecution informed the Tribunal that these three journalists incited the offenses described in the case during a press conference held on 14 July 2024, in the presence of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The press conference, concerning her China visit, was held at the official residence, Ganabhaban. During that press conference, Sheikh Hasina made remarks about the quota issue and used the word “Razakar,” which students described as derogatory. Protests began that same night in response to these remarks.
The prosecution alleges that from 14 July to 5 August, Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Hoque Babu, and Farzana Rupa created a “counter-narrative” against the student movement.
After the hearing, the Tribunal granted the application, issued a production warrant against the three journalists, and ordered them to be produced on 24 August.
