STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday ordered authorities to produce former foreign minister Dipu Moni, Ekattor TV’s former editor-in-chief Mozammel Haque Babu, and principal correspondent Farzana Rupa on May 14 in a crimes against humanity case.

The three-member tribunal passed the order following a prosecution plea linked to the 2013 Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka.

Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam told reporters that investigators had found “primary involvement” of the trio in events surrounding the crackdown.

“On the next date, they may be shown arrested in this case. They will then be taken to a safe home for necessary interrogation in the interest of the investigation,” he said.

The tribunal also set June 7 for submission of the investigation report.

The former minister and the two journalists are already in jail in separate cases.

The prosecution told the tribunal that Dipu Moni, then foreign minister, campaigned internationally to frame the dispersal of Hefazat activists as action against “unruly people”.

Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa allegedly attempted to portray the Hefazat rally as “hate speech” and spread “false information” after the operation.

Aminul said Ekattor TV aired a programme, “Shomikaron”, immediately after the crackdown to divert public attention by denying casualties and featuring statements from “controversial individuals”, including local ruling party activists and former officials.

He claimed these reports and interviews were part of a “systematic and pre-planned” effort to conceal the actual events.

He further said that the accused could face liability under the doctrine of “joint enterprise” if evidence shows they aided or abetted crimes committed during the operation.