17 people, including ministers and state ministers from Hasina’s era, indicted in tribunal for crimes against humanity

Seventeen people, including former ministers and state ministers of the Sheikh Hasina government, have been produced before the International Crimes Tribunal in a case of crimes against humanity surrounding the July-August 2024 movement. They were brought to the tribunal under tight security from various prisons including Keraniganj and Kashimpur at around 9:45 am today, Monday (December 8). After that, police members took them one by one from the prison van and took them to the prison. Today, a judicial panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder is scheduled to hear the progress of the case.
The accused brought to the tribunal are – former Law Minister Anisul Haque, former Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, former ICT State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, former Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, 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 Home Secretary Jahangir Alam, former MP Solaiman Selim, former MP Faruk Khan, former Prime Minister’s Advisor Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Sheikh Hasina’s former Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman and former State Minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder.
Of these, the state has filed separate formal charges against Salman, Anisul, Inu and Palak. Testimony is also being taken in Inu’s case. In addition, the Tribunal-1 has taken into account the formal charges against Sheikh Hasina’s sons Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Palak for committing genocide by shutting down internet services during the July coup. At the same time, an arrest warrant has been issued against Joy. Anisul and Salman have been formally charged with killing students and the public by imposing a curfew. The court has also set a hearing date after taking note of the charges against them.
Earlier, on October 15, the Tribunal-1 completed the investigation against 45 people, including former Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, in a separate case and ordered them to submit a report by today. The prosecution had asked for two months’ time, and this order was given on the same day. On July 20, the prosecution applied for another three months’ time for the investigation. However, the Tribunal granted a new time as the report was not submitted. Meanwhile, security has been tightened in front of the Tribunal since this morning. Law enforcement officers were alert. Almost everyone was allowed to enter the Tribunal after being searched.