ICT prosecution using UN findings in probe against Hasina, others
The chief prosecutor further said public hearings are also being held to collect information from victims in different private universities in the capital and evidences are also being collected by visiting different hospitals
The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal is preparing the probe reports in two crimes against humanity cases against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, using the information available in the UN fact-finding report.
"The reports are nearly complete. But as you know the United Nations (UN) Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently published its fact-finding report on the July-August mass uprising, the process is on to add information from that to this probe report and we need a little more time for this," chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said while pleading in the tribunal for time to submit probe report in the cases.
The chief prosecutor further said public hearings are also being held to collect information from victims in different private universities in the capital and evidences are also being collected by visiting different hospitals.
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"We need the time to verify this information, conduct forensic tests and add these to the probe report. Though it is taking a little time, we need to submit flawless probe reports, otherwise, we will be held responsible to the nation," he added.
Allowing the time plea of the prosecution, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder set April 20 to submit probe reports in the cases.
Prosecutors Mizanul Islam, BM Sultan Mahmud, Gazi MH Tamim, Tarek Abdullah, Shaikh Mahadi, and Abdullah Al Noman were present during the hearing. Senior lawyer ZI Khan Panna today filed wakalatnama for defending the cases of the accused.
"The UN findings have clearly stated that the July-August atrocities were part of pre-planned crimes and those took place on Sheikh Hasina's order. Her aides like Obaidul Quader, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, other leaders of Awami League, Chhatra League, Jubo League and even the members of the police played active roles in that. We need to add these findings to the report to make it stronger and that is why we sought those evidence from the UN," Tajul said in a press briefing held after the hearing.
A total of 16 accused of one case, including 11 former ministers of the past Awami League government, were produced at the ICT today.
The 16 accused are- Anisul Huq, Amir Hossain Amu, Shajahan Khan, Advocate Qamrul Islam, Lt Col (Retd) Faruk Khan, Dipu Moni, Dr Abdur Razzaque, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haq Inu, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Salman F Rahman, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Md Jahangir Alam.
