International Crimes Tribunal to start trial process from Thursday

Bangladesh desk: Trial of the cases filed over the mass murders and crimes against humanity during the July-August Anti-Discrimination Student Movement are set to begin at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam stated it to journalists on Tuesday, after attending a meeting with the tribunal judges.

“On Wednesday, the judges will be welcomed in the tribunal’s courtroom. Then, on Thursday, a three-judge bench, led by the tribunal’s chairman, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumdar, will commence the hearings,” Tajul Islam also said.

Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder who was sworn-in as an additional justice of the High Court, has been made Chairman of the ICT. Two other members are High Court’s additional justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and retired District and Sessions Judge Md Mohitul Huq Enam Chowdhury.

On Monday (October 14), circular was issued after forming the International Crimes Tribunal. Earlier on September 5, Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Tajul Islam as appointed as the Chief Prosecutor of the tribunal.

Five other prosecutors of the prosecution team are Md Mizanul Islam, Gazi Monwar Husayn Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud, Abdullah Al Noman and Md Saimum Reza Talukder.

On the other other hand, the International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency has been reconstituted with 10 officials. Md Mazharul Huque (retired Additional DIG) and Muhammad Shahid Ullah Chowdhury (retired Police Super) have been appointed as the co-coordinators of the investigation agency.

Other officials of the investigation agency are Md Alamgir, Mohd Monirul Islam, Jane Alam, Syed Abdur Rouf, Md Yunus, <d Masud Parvez, Muhammad Alamgir Sarker and Md Mashiur Rahman.

More than 50 complaints have so far been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal on charges of mass killings and crimes against humanity held accross the country from July 5 to August 5.

Former prime minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 last after resigning from power following a mass uprising held through the Anti-Discrimination Movement’s student-people’s revolution. Then an interim government led by Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus sworn-in.

Some 1,500 students and people became martyred after the law enforcing agency personnel and the then Awami League cadres opened fire on them during the 36-day long Anti-Discrimination Student Movement in Bangladesh. More than 500 students and people have become physically disabled being injured in firings.

Besides, 23,000 students and people have been injured during the movement, and many of them have been undergoing treatment at the hospital.