STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The prosecution yesterday pressed formal charges with the International Crimes Tribunal-2 accusing former ministers Hasan Mahmud and Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury Nowfel, former lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury and 19 others of crimes against humanity over killing six people and injuring over 100 others during the July 2024 uprising in Chattogram.

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal yesterday submitted formal charges in the case to the tribunal’s registrar office. The tribunal is expected to hold a hearing on the charges today before ICT-2.

The case earlier drew attention after allegations surfaced that a prosecutor had sought Tk 1 crore from Fazle Karim’s family in exchange for arranging his bail in the crimes against humanity case.

According to the prosecution, the accused faces three charges.

The first charge relates to the killing of Wasim Akram, Faysal Ahmed Shanto and Faruq Ahmed during the uprising. The second charge concerns the killing of Tanvir Siddiquee, Saimon alias Mahin and Hridoy Chandra on August 4. The third charge involves the injuring of Jahid Hasan, Abdullah Kader, Achiya Khatun, Sanjida Sultana and Abdullah Lubab, along with more than a hundred others.

Other accused in the case include Awami League leader and former mayor of Chattogram City Corporation AJM Nasir Uddin; Awami League leader Rezaul Karim Chowdhury; Md Mohiuddin Bacchu; Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babor; former Chattogram city unit BCL general secretary Nurul Azim Rony; former ward-21 councillor Shaibal Das Sumon; Md Firoz; Abu Salek; Esrarul Haque; HM Mithu; Nur Mostafa Tinu; Debashish Paul Debu; Zamir Uddin; Azizur Rahman; Imran Ahmed Imu; Zakaria Dastagir; Mohiuddin Farhad; Sumon Dey and Tauhidul Islam.

Besides, the defence lawyer of Shahriar Kabir, former president of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, sought divisional facilities for him in jail before International Crimes Tribunal-1.

The tribunal said it would consider the request in accordance with the rules. Shahriar is currently in jail in a case over the 2013 Shapla Chattar crackdown killings.

In the same case, the prosecution sought permission to interrogate former deputy inspector general Abdul Jalil Mondal. The tribunal granted the request.

Additionally, the tribunal allowed a defence prayer permitting accused army officer Lt Col Moshiur Rahman Jewel to meet his wife, who is expecting a baby. As per the order of the tribunal, he will be allowed to meet her at the Combined Military Hospital during his wife’s tough time.