Nahid Islam in the tribunal to testify against Hasina

National Citizens Party (NCP) convener Nahid Islam has appeared at the International Crimes Tribunal to testify against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in a popular uprising. He appeared at the tribunal on Tuesday (September 16) afternoon. However, Nahid will not testify today if Mahmudur Rahman’s cross-examination is not completed. Earlier, Mahmudur Rahman’s testimony was taken at the tribunal from Monday morning to afternoon. As the testimony was not completed today, it was postponed until Tuesday. After taking the testimony, Mahmudur Rahman’s cross-examination continues today. State-appointed lawyer Md. Amir Hossain is interrogating him on behalf of Sheikh Hasina and Kamal. After that, Nahid Islam is scheduled to take his testimony. Six people have testified in this case until the 14th day on September 9. So far, a total of 46 people have testified in the tribunal. Three people testified on September 8. On September 2, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who was an accused in the case and turned government witness, testified as witness number 36. His interrogation ended on September 4. He apologized and said that the genocide was carried out in July-August on the orders of Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. At the same time, he revealed many unknown facts before the tribunal. On September 1, the 10th day of testimony and interrogation ended. Six people gave their statements today. Among them are doctors, journalists and eyewitnesses. The witness statements revealed a horrific description of the genocide carried out across the country during the July-August movement last year, and the families of the martyrs and eyewitnesses have blamed Sheikh Hasina, Kamal and Mamun for all this and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved. It is worth noting that on July 10, the tribunal ordered the formal indictment of Sheikh Hasina, Kamal and Mamun and the trial to begin. In this case, the state brought five charges of crimes against humanity against them. The formal indictment has a total of 8,747 pages. Of these, 2,018 pages are references, 4,05 pages are seized lists and documentary evidence, and 2,724 pages are lists of martyrs. There are 81 witnesses. The tribunal’s investigative body submitted its report to the chief prosecutor on May 12.