Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina directed to shutdown internet to conceal genocide committed during the July-August mass uprising. The then state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak implemented it.
"Zunaid Ahmed Palak himself admitted it while being questioned by law enforcing agencies," Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, told journalists on Thursday (December 19).
Quoting Palak, Tajul Islam said, "Sheikh Hasina's target was to hide the mass killings shutting down the internet."
The chief prosecutor said accused Ziaul Ahsan submitted an application to the tribunal, saying that the tribunal has no jurisdiction to try him. "The application was submitted with an ulterior motive of making his trial controversial."
Meanwhile, the tribunal directed to the agency concerned to complete the investigation against eight officials including former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, and NTMC's former director general Major General (Retd) Ziaul Ahsan in a case filed on charge of crime against humanity in July-August mass killings.
The tribunal also directed to submit the progress report into the investigation to it on February 20 next.
The three-member tribunal led by ICT Chairman Justice Md Ghulam Mortuza gave the directive.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam, prosecutors BM Sultan Mahmud and Gazi MH Tamim led the hearing on behalf of the prosecution.
