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earlier that month.

Police officials later claimed that “nine militants” were killed in a joint counter-terrorism operation, codenamed Storm 26, after hours of gunfire and grenade explosions.

Law enforcers said they recovered a large cache of explosives, firearms and knives, along with black flags and clothing bearing symbols commonly associated with the Islamic State. They also claimed the group was likely affiliated with the banned Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh.

According to officials, an injured suspect detained hours earlier provided crucial intelligence that enabled the operation. The militants were described as young and educated, with possible links to earlier high-profile attacks, including the Holey Artisan Bakery siege.

Placing the formal charge yesterday, prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim told the tribunal that the operation was staged and that the victims -- madrasa students and religious youths -- had been illegally detained, forcibly disappeared and later killed.

Eight of the victims were identified as Motaleb alias Abdullah; Raihan alias Raihanul Kabir alias Tarek; Matiur Rahman; Md Jubayer Hossain; Sejad Rauf alias Orko; Taj Ul Haque alias Rashik; Abu Hakim alias Naim; and Akifuzzaman Khan. The other remains unidentified.

According to the prosecution, the youths were picked up from different parts of the country, held at secret detention facilities run by DMP’s Detective Branch, CTTC and other units, and later confined at the Jahaj Building under the guise of a “block raid”.

Tamim alleged that members of CTTC’s SWAT team opened fire on the detainees shortly after midnight on July 26, killing nine of them and critically injuring Md Rakibul Hasan alias Rigen.

A false case was later filed to legitimise the operation, while a fabricated seizure list was prepared on the instruction of Monirul Islam, the prosecutor said.

He further alleged that the crimes were committed with the instruction, consent and knowledge of the accused, including Hasina, Kamal, Shahidul Hoque and Asaduzzaman Mia. Other accused senior officers were present at the scene and supervised.

At a press briefing on July 26, 2016, Asaduzzaman Mia had presented the deceased as militants.

The charges also note that Hasina and Kamal allegedly awarded officers involved in the operation with the Bangladesh Police Medal and President’s Police Medal.

Tamim said the allegations disclose prima facie offences of murder, abduction, enforced disappearance, confinement, torture, conspiracy, abetment and other inhumane acts under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.

After hearing the charges, the three-member tribunal ordered the authorities concerned to produce the accused already in custody before it and to arrest and produce the remaining accused in the next hearing fixed for February 8.