Ex-IGP Mamun stands approver

Former Inspector-General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun stands approver to prove the offences as ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is put to trial for "crimes against humanity", in a significant happening in Bangladesh's post-uprising spectrum.

The International Crimes Tribunla-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka Thursday framed charges against Sheikh Hasina, ex-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and the former police chief over crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July-August 2024 uprising.

A three-member bench of the ICT-1, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the orders of indictment after concluding the charge hearings. The two other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury.

Among the bigwig accused, Hasina and Kamal are absconding, while Mamun was present in the courtroom during the court proceedings.

After the charges were read out, the court asked the former IGP whether he would plead guilty or not guilty. "I plead guilty," he replied-with an express intent to unveil the whole gamut of guilt involved in the case.

"I am willing to voluntarily disclose true and full disclosure of the whole of the circumstances, within my knowledge, relating to the instant case," the former police chief said in his reply to the court query.

And this confession and wish lead to making him 'approver (raj sakkhi' in the case as per legal parlance.

After pleading guilty, the former IGP through his lawyer, Jayed Bin Amjad, submitted two petitions to the tribunal for considering him as "approver" in the case, and seeking isolated room in the jail with proper security there.

The tribunal allowed both the petitions, said Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam.

The tribunal also set August 3 for opening statement from the prosecution and August 4 for deposition by the witnesses.

At the outset of the proceedings, tribunal member Judge Md Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury read out five specific charges, including one of superior command responsibility, against the accused top brass of the toppled government.

During the charge hearings, prosecution prayed to the tribunal for bringing Hasina and two others to justice by framing charges against them on the basis of five specific allegations. On the other hand, the state-appointed counsel sought acquittal for Hasina and Kamal.

The tribunal granted the petition submitted by the prosecution and rejected the plea of the state defence counsel for the runways.

This is the first case filed over crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July-August 2024 uprising in which the tribunal has indicted the accused and started trial proceedings.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said, "The tribunal read out the charges framed against the accused. Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun who was present in the courtroom pleaded guilty when the tribunal asked him about the charges. Later, he prayed to the court to become approver in the case, and the tribunal granted his prayer."

The long-reigning Hasina regime came to an end on August 5 last year on the face of a mass uprising led by students and people. Later on August 14, a complaint was submitted with the ICT against this former Prime Minister on charges of committing crimes against humanity.

The investigating officer or IO started the investigations on October 14 in 2024 and submitted the report to the Chief Prosecutor office on May 12 this year, within six months 28 days, against these three.

Prosecution submitted the formal charge to the tribunal on June 01 and the same day the tribunal took cognizance of the formal charges brought against the three accused in the case.

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