Crimes against humanity: Trial formally opens today in case against Salman, Anisul

The trial in a case involving crimes against humanity, including incitement to mass killings through the imposition of curfew during the Students Against Discrimination movement, will begin today (10 February) with the prosecution presenting its opening statement against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq.

Testimony from the first witness is also scheduled to be recorded on the same day.

The proceedings will take place at International Crimes Tribunal-1, a three-member bench headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumder.

Both accused are currently in custody and will be produced at the tribunal from jail this morning. 

The prosecution will place its opening statement in their presence, followed by the deposition of the first witness.

On 12 January, the tribunal ordered the commencement of trial by framing five charges against Salman and Anisul and fixed today for the opening statement and witness examination. 

On that day, both accused pleaded not guilty and sought justice from the tribunal.

According to the prosecution, Salman and Anisul took key policy decisions to suppress the student-public movement. 

In this context, they reportedly spoke over the phone on 19 July 2024. 

Despite widespread killings of students and members of the public allegedly resulting from their continued conspiracy and instigation, no effective steps were taken to stop the repression.

The prosecution further alleges that incidents including killings in Mirpur on 23 July, the use of lethal weapons in Mirpur-10 on 28 July, the killing of 12 people in Mirpur-1 on 4 August, and the deaths of 16 people in Mirpur-2, Mirpur-10 and Mirpur-13 areas during the "March to Dhaka" programme on 5 August were carried out under their planning and directives.

The tribunal took cognisance of the charges on 4 December last year.