Crimes against humanity: ICT indicts Salman, Anisul; trial begins 10 Feb
Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq are accused of abetting and instigating mass killings and other inhumane acts to suppress the student-led uprising.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) framed charges against Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former law minister Anisul Huq today (12 January) for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July Uprising.
A three-member bench, headed by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order and set 10 February for the prosecution's opening statement and the recording of the first witness's testimony.
The tribunal also rejected a discharge petition filed by the defence seeking to exempt the duo from the charges.
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Following the dismissal, Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud began reading out the formal charges against the accused.
Earlier in the morning, Salman and Anisul were brought to the tribunal from jail in a prison van under tight security. Their counsel, senior advocate Mansurul Haque Chowdhury, had previously argued on 6 January that his clients were innocent and requested the court not to frame charges.
The prosecution, however, countered with evidence of their alleged involvement in inciting security forces to open fire on protesters and orchestrating a deadly crackdown through the imposition of a curfew.
According to the formal charges submitted on 4 December last year, Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq are accused of abetting and instigating mass killings and other inhumane acts to suppress the student-led uprising.
Salman and Anisul were arrested on 13 August in 2024 while reportedly attempting to flee the capital via a river route in the Sadarghat area. They have been in custody ever since.
