STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The prosecution yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal-1 that the attacks on protesters during the July uprising were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated and systematic campaign of atrocities directed against civilians.

Citing witness testimonies, UN fact-finding report, and other evidence, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam argued that the materials clearly established a pattern of organised attack and substantiated the first two of the five charges framed against the accused.

The first charge accuses the defendants of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts -- alleging that they abetted, incited, facilitated, or failed to prevent such crimes committed by law enforcement agencies and armed cadres of Awami League and its affiliated bodies.

Under the second charge, deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina is accused of ordering the use of drones, helicopters, and lethal weapons to subdue protesters.

Hasina’s co-accused former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and ex-inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who has turned an approver, are charged with facilitating and executing this directive through law enforcers. The count alleges that the three conspired to commit crimes against humanity knowingly and systematically.

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