ICT sets 7 June for charge hearing against Hasina, 7 others in Kallyanpur ‘Jahajbari’ case

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today (6 May) once again deferred charge-framing in the Kalyanpur "Jahajbari" case over the 2016 killing of nine youths, setting 7 June for the next hearing.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, rescheduled the hearing after the prosecution requested more time.

Prosecutor Shaikh Mahdi told the court that additional preparation was needed and sought a one-month extension, which the tribunal granted. The hearing had previously been scheduled for 6 April but was postponed following an application.

Earlier, on 8 March, Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim requested the appointment of state defence counsel for six absconding accused.

The case names eight accused, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the deaths of nine youths during a police operation in July 2016.

According to the prosecution, members of the Counter Terrorism Unit carried out an operation at a building in Kalyanpur, allegedly used as a militant hideout, under the codename "Operation Storm-26." During the operation, nine youths were shot dead.

Two of the accused — former Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Mia — are currently in custody.

They include former Home Minister, former DMP Additional Commissioner Sheikh Muhammad Maruf Hasan, former Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime chief Monirul Islam, former DMP Joint Commissioner (Crime) Krishna Pada Roy, and former Joint Commissioner (DB) Abdul Baten.

On 22 February, the tribunal ordered notices to be published in two national daily newspapers, directing the absconding accused to appear before the court. The tribunal formally took cognisance of the charges on 29 January this year.