Crimes against humanity: July Uprising leader Nahid's testimony deferred to Wednesday

The testimony of Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a former interim government advisor, has been deferred in the trial of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others in the crimes against humanity case over government atrocities during the July Uprising.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) said Nahid, a prominent figure in the student-led uprising that toppled Hasina's regime, was due to appear as a “context witness” on Tuesday. But he will now testify on Wednesday.

According to Tamim, Nahid arrived at the tribunal on Tuesday to provide his statement. However, proceedings could not move forward as the cross-examination of another witness, Amar Desh Editor Mahmudur Rahman, was still ongoing.

The case, filed over allegations of crimes against humanity committed during the July-August Movement, names Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Of the three, Mamun has turned witness for the state.

The trial is being conducted at International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder.

Mahmudur testified as the 46th witness on Monday and Tuesday before being cross-examined, reports bdnews24.com.

On Jul 10, the tribunal ordered the trial of Hasina and the two others to proceed on five charges. These include allegations of instigation, provocation and orders to kill that led to the deaths of 1,400 people during the attempted suppression of the protests, as well as “superior command responsibility” and “joint criminal enterprise”.

Several political groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP, have been demanding Hasina and the Awami League be tried before the next general election.

In a recent Facebook post, Law Advisor Asif Nazrul said he expected the trial to be wrapped up during the tenure of the interim government.