ICT opens trial of 11

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered the trial of 11 people on charges of crimes against humanity over the killing of Imam Hasan Taim, the son of a policeman, during the July 2024 mass uprising in Dhaka's Jatrabari.

The order was issued on Sunday by a three-member bench of ICT-2 headed by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, after the charges were formally framed. The tribunal has set Mar 29 for opening statements and testimonies.

Two of the accused-former Jatrabari Police Station chief Abul Hasan and former Sub-Inspector Shahadat Ali-were produced before the tribunal in the morning. The remaining nine accused are absconding.

Those absconding include then Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, Joint Commissioner Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, former Wari Zone DC Iqbal Hossain, ADC Shakil Mohammad Shamim, then Demra Zone ADC Md Masudur Rahman Monir, then Assistant Police Commissioner Nahid Ferdous, then Jatrabari Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Zakir Hossain, Inspector (Operations) Ohidul Haque Mamun and SI (Unarmed) Sajjad Uz Zaman. After the charges were read, the court asked Abul Hasan and Shahadat Ali to enter a plea. Both stood in the dock and claimed their innocence.

Prosecutor Mizanul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim appeared for the state, along with others.

Lawyer Abul Hasan represented the two arrested accused, while state-appointed lawyers M Hasan Imam and Lokman Howlader appeared for the nine absconding suspects.
    �"bdnews24