ICT takes cognizance of charges against 28

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday formally took cognizance of charges against 28 individuals, including former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, over crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 uprising.

The case relates to the killing of nine people in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, during the mass protests in July-August 2024. The three-member ICT-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder, heard a petition filed by the prosecution seeking the tribunal's order to take formal charges into cognizance.

The ICT also issued arrest warrants against absconding accused, including Nanak and Taposh, directing that they be produced before the tribunal on January 29. Other absconding individuals include former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional DIG Pralay Kumar Joardar, former joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, and several leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League.

Meanwhile, four accused who had been arrested-Naimul Hasan Russel, president of Mohammadpur police station unit of the banned Chhatra League, vice-president Sazzad Hossain, Omar Faruk, and Fazle Rabbi-were ordered to be sent to jail.