Investigation of 4 July uprising cases at final stage

The investigation of four cases over the crimes committed during the July-August uprising is at the final stage, and reports are expected to be submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) soon. 

"Investigation of the cases filed over body burning incident in Ashulia, Chankharpul massacre, shooting a youth hanging from an under-construction building at Rampura and one against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is almost at the final stage. The reports will be submitted before the tribunal within the shortest possible time," said the ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam today (15 April).

The chief prosecutor said this while speaking at a views-exchange meeting with the reporters covering the tribunal this morning.

Tajul Islam said the formal trial will start after the tribunal takes the formal charges into cognizance.

Investigation into those cases and collection of relevant evidence are being hampered because there are many officers and employees in the administration who were loyal to the past fascist government, Tajul Islam said, adding that those quarters have already destroyed many documents relating to these cases.

Conspiracies were also hatched to launch deadly attacks on the investigators and the prosecutors, the chief prosecutor said, adding that those quarters are trying to hamper or obstruct the investigation by providing huge illegal funds.

They were also spreading rumors or misinformation against the investigators and prosecutors through social media, he said, adding that they have also been engaging a lobbyist firm in this regard.

Advocate Tajul Islam said that the law enforcers are trying to arrest the absconding accused in the cases, and a total of 24 officers under the supervision of the home ministry have been investigating those cases. A total of 17 prosecutors, including the chief prosecutor, have been working for the tribunal and as per the rules, the prosecutors may investigate the cases, if necessary, Tajul Islam added.

The students of different educational institutions of the country, under the banner of 'anti-discrimination student movement' started agitation against the previous Awami League government for reforming the quota in the government services from the beginning of July last year. 

The then government used its administration and law enforcers to suppress the movement, and at one stage, they carried out mass killing and committed crimes against humanity. Over 1000 people including students were reportedly killed and over 23,000 were injured, many of them were blind and crippled during the movement.

On 5 August last year, the then-prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, fled the country in the face of a mass uprising.