The International Crimes Tribunal has taken cognisance of formal charges against 38 people, including former Rajshahi City Corporation mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, over crimes against humanity including the killings of two people during the July 2024 uprising in Rajshahi.
The tribunal also issued arrest warrants against 34 accused and ordered four others to be produced before it.
A three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the orders on Tuesday, following a prosecution petition.
Prosecutor Zahirul Amin represented the state, assisted by prosecutors Faruk Ahmed, Moinul Karim, Marzina Raihan, Shahidul Islam Sardar and Tarek Abdullah.
During the hearing, Prosecutor Zahirul presented details of the allegations and showed three videos to the tribunal. The prosecution claimed the footage showed several accused firing weapons, and identified some of them.
The prosecution then sought to have the charges taken up, along with arrest warrants for the absconding accused and production warrants for those already in custody.
After the hearing, the tribunal issued arrest warrants for 34 accused and ordered four others to be produced before it. The next hearing is scheduled for September 17.
Four ordered to be produced
The four accused facing production warrants are former Rajshahi-3 MP Mohammad Asaduzzaman Asad, Dablu Sarker, Zahirul Islam Rubel and Mohaiminul Islam Manik.
34 face arrest warrants
The 34 accused are AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Biplab Bijoy Talukdar, Humayun Kabir, Rocky Kumar Ghosh, Rashik Dutta, Bappi Chowdhury Rony, Mahidul Islam Mostafa, Khalid Hasan Biplab, Rashedul Karim Rozel, Mehedi Hasan alias Rony, Jedu Sarker alias Jabedur Rahman, Abdul Hamid Sarker alias Tekon, Anwar Hossain alias Anar, Arman Ali, Abdul Momin, Shahadat Hossain Shahu, Touhidul Haque Sumon, Mahtab Hossain Chowdhury, Alauddin alias Alal, Shariful Islam Babu, Mohammad Nabil Hasan, Mahmudul Hasan Rajib, Farhad Hossain Biplab, Taurid Al Masud Rony, Mehedi Hasan Rimel alias Rigen, Ashraful Islam Jafar, Sukanta Kumar Das, Faisal Ahmed Runu, Nur Mohammad Siam, Asadullah-Hil-Galib, Golam Kibria, Alal Parvez Lulu, Moniruzzaman Khan alias Monir and Shafiquzzaman alias Shafiq.
The prosecution filed the formal charges against the 38 accused on July 30. The tribunal took cognizance of the charges on Tuesday.
Allegations
According to the prosecution, protester Raihan Ali was shot dead on the afternoon of August 5, 2024, in front of Labanga Restaurant, opposite Swachh Tower at Shekherchawk in Rajshahi city’s Boalia area.