ICT seeks probe report on charges against Hasina by December 17

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has asked authorities concerned to submit probe report by December 17 this year in two cases filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 other people.

The cases were filed over the killings and crimes against humanity committed during the anti-discrimination student movement in last July and August.

The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, passed the order on Monday after a hearing on the cases.

Tribunal’s chief prosecutor Advocate Md Tajul Islam said the court ordered the investigation agency to update it about the absconding accused and set December 17 for holding a hearing over the matter.

Besides, nine former ministers, two former advisers, a retired justice and a former secretary were shown arrested in genocide charges.

According to UNB, earlier in the morning, 13 accused, including nine former ministers of the ousted Awami League government, were produced before tribunal in cases over the killings during the student-led mass movement.

ICT chief prosecutor Md Tajul Islam said they were produced before the tribunal after showing them arrested in cases over crimes against humanity.

All the accused are now behind the bars in other cases, he added.

Those who were produced before the tribunal were former law minister Anisul Huq, civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haq Inu, former state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former prime minister's power, energy and mineral resources adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.

Ex-minister Dr Dipu Moni, Hasina’s adviser and businessman Salman F Rahman, former minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former home secretary Jahangir Alam and former minister Dipu Moni were among them.

Though former agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzak was supposed to be produced with the above ones, he could not be produced due to his illness.

Earlier, on October 27, the ICT ordered the 14 accused to be produced on November 18.