The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has set December 17 as the deadline for submitting the probe report in the case accusing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina of committing genocide to suppress the anti-government protests in July and August.
The tribunal also mandated the detention of 13 individuals, including former ministers and advisers of the outgoing Sheikh Hasina cabinet, who are charged with genocide.
This directive was issued on Monday by a three-judge panel led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
Muhammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the ICT, revealed initial findings of crimes against humanity linked to the protests, citing both superior command responsibility and individual accountability among the accused.
He requested a two-month extension but was granted one month by the tribunal.
It may be recalled that on October 17, the tribunal authorised arrest warrants for 46 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, who is now in India after the fall of her government on August 5.
Among the 46 individuals named in the arrest warrants issued on October 17, 14 are already in custody in several cases.
Former Awami League ministers Anisul Huq, Faruk Khan, Dipu Moni, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Abdur Razzaque, Shahjahan Khan, and Golam Dastagir Gazi, along with former state ministers Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, were brought to the tribunal from Dhaka Central Jail on Monday morning.
The four additional individuals were Sheikh Hasina’s advisors Salman F Rahman and Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, retired justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.
Gazi was brought from Narayanganj Jail. However, former minister Dr. Razzaque could not appear due to being detained and remanded in another case.
The tribunal has directed his presentation at the next hearing.
The 13 high-profile defendants were transported to the tribunal in three different prison vans, with Golam Dastagir Gazi being the first to arrive from Narayanganj jail at around 9:45am.
Dipu Moni was transported alone in another prison van ten minutes later, while the remaining 11 were brought together at 10:02am.
Proceedings commenced at 11:00am.
Chief Prosecutor Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam argued that the detainees had aided Sheikh Hasina in executing killings, genocide and crimes against humanity during the student-led uprising in July-August.
"Thirteen individuals who held important positions in the previous government have been presented before the tribunal today. For those who wish to become fascists in the future, today is a day of learning. Crimes against humanity cannot keep one in power forever; one must face justice," he told reporters after the hearing.
He added: "Since 2009, using state machinery, all national institutions have been politicised and turned into oppressive entities. We have presented this story in court. To keep one family in power, incidents like the Pilkhana massacre, the killing at Shapla Chattar and the destruction of the electoral system took place.”
"The main responsibility for today's crimes lies with Sheikh Hasina. In the July uprising, a killing spree was carried out across 56,000 square miles with targeted killings. We asked for two months to complete the investigation and submit a report suitable for trial, but the court has granted us one month," he added.
The ICT, established in 2010 to prosecute 1971 war crimes, is now being utilised by the interim government to investigate allegations of atrocities committed by the Awami League government during the July uprising.
Over 50 complaints of genocide and crimes against humanity have been filed since the protests, which occurred from July 5 to August 5.
The tribunal has issued arrest warrants for Sheikh Hasina and her family members, including her sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, former MP Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former Dhaka South mayor Fazle Noor Taposh and Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash.
Obaidul Quader, AKM Mozammel Haque and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal are also on the list of the accused.
The list also includes former IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun, former RAB DG Harun-or-Rashid, former DMP commissioner Habibur Rahman, former additional IGP Monirul Islam, additional police commissioner Harunor Rashid, joint police commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar and additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joardar.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam has contacted the inspector general of police, seeking action on issuing Interpol red notices for apprehending fugitive suspects, including Sheikh Hasina.
In his national address on Sunday to mark the first 100 days of the interim government, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus vowed to ensure justice for every killing that took place during the July-August movement.
Over 1,000 people were killed and many injured during the July and August uprising, which had begun as protests over government jobs and later escalated into an anti-government movement, leading to widespread violence and the end of Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.
