July Genocide: Trial of three accused including Hasina begins

The first testimony has begun against three accused including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal in the case of crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising. The opening statements and testimony of the case are being broadcast live. On Sunday (August 3), Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman began his opening statement at the three-member tribunal led by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, at around 11:30 am. Subject to the permission of the International Crimes Tribunal-1, the trial proceedings are being broadcast live from 11:30 am. Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, although an accused in this case, has admitted responsibility for crimes against humanity. He has now been considered a witness. On July 10, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 ordered the start of the trial by framing formal charges against Sheikh Hasina and three other accused for five crimes. At the same time, August 3 was fixed for the prosecution to present its opening statement and August 4 for the taking of testimony in the case. There are 81 witnesses in the case, including two advisors to the interim government and an editor of a national daily. A total of 5 charges have been brought against Sheikh Hasina and Kamal: incitement, instigation and ordering the killing of about 1,500 people during the mass uprising, ‘superior command responsibility’ and ‘joint criminal enterprise’. The prosecution submitted Sheikh Hasina’s audio recording and evidence related to ordering the use of deadly weapons on the protesters to the International Crimes Tribunal. The prosecution then filed a case against Sheikh Hasina and three others as plaintiffs. The tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina on October 17 last year, following an application by the prosecution.