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A hearing for the framing of charges in the crimes against humanity case over the killing of nine people in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur during the July Uprising has been deferred for the second time.
In view of the prosecution’s request for time, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) set Apr 26 for the hearing.
The single bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1 member Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury gave the order on Wednesday.
Four suspects in jail custody were produced before the tribunal for Wednesday’s hearing. They are Naimul Hasan Rasel, president of the Mohammadpur Thana branch of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, the organisation’s Vice President Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk and Fazle Rabbi. Former textiles and jute minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak are among the 28 accused in the case.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim petitioned for a week’s time.
He told the tribunal, “We are applying for a week’s time. The prosecution will present its arguments first, then the defence will present its argument.”
At that time, when the tribunal asked for the defence’s statement, they informed the court that the accused would apply for them to be discharged.
After hearing the statements of both parties, the court fixed Apr 26 for the hearing.
Previously, the indictment hearing in the case was scheduled for April 8.
On that day, the defence’s lawyers informed the court that the prosecution had not provided them with the necessary documents. Therefore, when they asked for additional time, the court deferred the hearing to Apr 15.
Now, the hearing has been postponed again.
Notable absconding suspects in the case include them Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, then Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional DIG of police Prolay Kumar Joarder, former joint commissioner of DMP Biplob Kumar Sarkar and former Dhaka North City Corporation Ward No. 32 councillor Syed Hasan Noor Islam Rashtran. The tribunal has arranged a state defence for the absconding suspects.
On Jan 18 this year, the court issued arrest warrants against 28 accused after taking into account the formal complaint filed by the prosecution.
The three charges brought by the prosecution in the case state that the Awami League, Chhatra League and law enforcing agencies committed atrocities during the student-led mass movement on Jul 18 and Jul 19, 2024. Through the instigating, prompting, and in the direct and indirect presence of the accused, shots were fired at a crowd of innocent students. A total of nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Fayaz, were killed and many others were seriously injured.