In the case over crimes against humanity during the July mass uprising, the tribunal has ordered formal charges to be framed against the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and three accused.
On Thursday, this order was given by the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1 headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar.
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun informed the International Crimes Tribunal that he wants to voluntarily become a state witness.
The other two accused are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun.
Among them, only former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has been arrested in the case. Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan have been shown as absconders.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has stated that Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun has confessed to his crimes and has become a state witness. Through this, the formal trial in the July genocide case has begun against Sheikh Hasina and three others.
Representing the prosecution in court was Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam. Representing the accused was state-appointed lawyer Amir Hossain on behalf of Sheikh Hasina.
With the framing of charges, this marks the start of the first formal trial against Sheikh Hasina in any case related to the July movement.
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 took cognisance of the formal charges against ousted Sheikh Hasina for crimes against humanity on June 1.
Alongside Sheikh Hasina, the prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity in the formal charges against former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun in this case.
On that day, the tribunal’s judicial proceedings were broadcast live on BTV.
On June 16, Tribunal-1 ordered that a notice be published in one Bengali and one English newspaper, instructing Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to appear within seven days. The next day, notices were published in two newspapers, directing Sheikh Hasina and Kamal to surrender within seven days.
However, as the two absconding accused did not appear before the tribunal even after the notices, the tribunal set July 1 as the date for the hearing on charge framing.