Nanak, 27 others indicted

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) on Sunday framed charges against 28 people, including former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh for crimes against humanity over the killing of nine people during the 2024 July uprising. The victims included two students who were killed in Mohammadpur.

The three-member bench of the ICT-1 headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumder cane up with the order following separate petitions filed by prosecution seeking its order against the accused. The ICT also rejected the discharge applications filed by the accused.

While framing the charges, the tribunal said the materials on record were adequate to move forward with the trial.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim appeared for the prosecution.

The prosecution presented three charges, detailing incidents that took place on July 18 and 19, 2024. During the hearing, the prosecution also referred to a phone conversation between ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and then DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, along with video footage allegedly showing the presence of other accused at the scene.

The prosecution told the tribunal that it had sufficient evidence and sought formal charges against all 28 accused.

State-appointed defence lawyers argued on behalf of both the arrested and absconding accused and sought their discharge from the case. Defence counsel Sifat Mahmud Shuvo argued that the allegations did not constitute crimes against humanity.

After hearing both sides, the tribunal fixed the date for its order on charge framing.

Among the 28 accused are former textiles and jute minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak. Four accused are currently in custody: banned Chhatra League Mohammadpur unit president Naimul Hasan Russell, vice-president Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk and Fazle Rabbi. They were produced before the tribunal from jail on Sunday morning.

Notable absconding accused include former DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional DIG Prolay Kumar Joarder, former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar and DNCC ward 32 councillor Syed Hasan Noor Islam.

According to the prosecution, Awami League, Chhatra League and members of law enforcement agencies carried out attacks during the student movement on July 18 and 19, 2024. It alleged that students and civilians were fired upon with the direct and indirect involvement and incitement of the accused.

Nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Fayyaz, were killed in the incidents, while many others were injured.