Shyamol, Babu and Rupa shown arrested
A tribunal has shown arrested and sent to jail three journalists in a case filed over alleged crimes against humanity for making provocative remarks while purportedly asking questions at a press conference held by the then prime minister.
The order was passed on Monday, 24 August, by a two-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Judge Md Manzurul Bashid. The other member of the panel is Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir. The tribunal also set 25 October for the submission of the investigation report.
The three journalists are Shyamol Dutta, former general secretary of the National Press Club and editor of Bhorer Kagoj; Mozammel Babu, former chief editor of Ekattor Television; and Farzana Rupa, former chief reporter of the same television channel.
Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed appeared for the prosecution at the tribunal. Prosecutors Zahirul Amin, Marzina Raihan, Tarek Abdullah and others were also present.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed said production warrants had been issued against the three journalists on 17 August in a case concerning crimes against humanity linked to the July mass uprising. Following the warrants, they were produced before the tribunal on Monday.
The prosecution sought to show all three arrested in the case and send them to jail. It also sought two months to submit the investigation report.
After the hearing, the tribunal granted the prosecution’s prayers and ordered Shyamol Dutta, Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa to be shown arrested and sent to jail. It also set the next date for submission of the investigation report.
The prosecution said then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had held a press conference at Ganabhaban on 14 July, 2024. On that day, several journalists allegedly made provocative statements while asking her questions. Following the incident, Sheikh Hasina referred to the protesters as “children of Razakars” and “grandchildren of Razakars.”
The prosecution alleged that crimes against humanity were committed in July as part of a chain of events triggered by those provocative statements. An investigation into the 14 July incident is currently underway in the case.
