The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Monday fixed 10 July for passing the order on charge framing in a crimes against humanity case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over their alleged roles in monstrous crimes committed during the July-August mass uprising.
Two other accused are former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
The three-member ICT-1 led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order, as both the prosecution and the defence concluded their part of the hearing on the matter.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam took part in the hearing for the prosecution and pleaded to frame charges against the three accused, while state-appointed defence counsel for Hasina and Asaduzzaman, Advocate Amir Hossain argued for discharging his clients from the case.
Advocate Zayed Bin-Amjad stood for the former IGP, who was produced before the court for the hearing.
The prosecution on 1 July started placing their arguments for framing charges against the three accused. Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam read out all five charges pressed against the high-profile trio on that day and pleaded to frame charges against them.
The ICT-1 on 17 June published a notice in two national dailies, asking Hasina and Asaduzzaman to surrender on 24 June.
“…as per rules 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (Amendment), 2025, they are hereby ordered to surrender at this tribunal on 24 June 2025. Otherwise, the trial will be held in their absence as per section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the notice read.
As the two accused opted not to appear before the court, the tribunal on 24 June set a schedule to hold a hearing on charge framing.
The first tribunal on 16 June ordered the authorities concerned to publish notices on two national dailies, one in Bangla and another in English, asking the two fugitives to give up before the court.
Earlier, the ICT-1 on 1 June took cognisance of the formal charge, filed by the prosecution in the case, and set 16 June for passing a further order in this connection.
In line with that order, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam on 16 June said, of the three accused, Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan have yet to be arrested and the police learned from different sources that they are in India right now.
The ICT chief prosecutor then pleaded for further direction from the tribunal in this connection. The tribunal then asked authorities concerned to publish notices in two widely circulated national dailies, asking the two accused to appear before it within seven days.
The court also set 24 June for passing a further order in this connection.
The prosecution placed five charges against the three accused.
On 12 May, the investigation agency of the ICT filed its probe report in the crimes against humanity and mass killing case.
LND/SAE
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