Seventeen people, including former ministers and state ministers, were produced before the International Crimes Tribunal on Monday morning in a case of crimes against humanity filed for murder and genocide surrounding the July-August protests. They were brought from various prisons, including Keraniganj and Kashimpur, under tight security and taken to the detention center one by one.
A hearing on the progress of the case is scheduled to be held today at the bench of Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar.
Among those present were former Law Minister Anisul Haque, former Education Minister Dipu Moni, former State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, former Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu, former Food Minister Kamrul Islam, former Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak, former Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan, Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon, JSD President and former Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former Secretary Jahangir Alam, former MP Faruk Khan, former advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Sheikh Hasina’s former Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman, and several others.
Among them, the prosecution has filed separate formal charges against Anisul Haque, Inu, Salman F. Rahman and Junaid Palak. Testimony is being taken in Inu’s case. The tribunal has accepted charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Palak for aiding and abetting the genocide by shutting down the internet during the July coup. An arrest warrant has also been issued against Joy.
Earlier, on October 15, 45 people, including former Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, were ordered to submit investigation reports in separate cases. The prosecution has not yet submitted the report despite asking for more time.
Security was tight in the tribunal area since Monday morning. Visitors were allowed to enter after being searched.