July Uprising cannot be questioned in any court: Chief Prosecutor

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, has stated that the July uprising in Bangladesh cannot be questioned in any court, describing attempts to undermine it as audacious. He emphasised that the movement, recognised through the July Charter and July Declaration, is considered a national liberation struggle.

Tajul Islam made the remarks today (6 January) during a hearing at the tribunal on charges of crimes against humanity against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's advisor, Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Haq. The case involves allegations that a curfew was imposed during the July uprising to incite killings.

During the hearing, the defence argued that the July movement was disruptive to public life and that the curfew had been imposed to protect citizens. Responding to this, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the two-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, that such statements are audacious. He said that the uprising cannot be described as a terrorist movement and that the curfew was never lawful.

He explained that the curfew was imposed to suppress the movement and kill unarmed protesters. "These freedom-seeking protesters were demanding a legitimate cause. Therefore, no one can question this movement," he said. Tajul Islam emphasised that the July-August uprising, along with the July Charter and July Declaration, is recognised by political parties as a national liberation struggle. "No one should audaciously call this a terrorist movement. This must be considered in tribunal arguments," he added.

According to the Chief Prosecutor, the curfew was issued not to restore public order but to facilitate genocide. "Unarmed people were killed like birds. Children were killed. People were burned alive. Injured individuals were shot at point-blank range. This proves the curfew was not imposed for any peaceful purpose. It was intended to carry out mass killings," he said.

Tajul Islam also highlighted evidence showing that the accused coordinated by phone to suppress the protests, issuing instructions to others. Internet services had been shut down, forcing them to communicate via telephone. "We recovered phone call records from NTMC. This state surveillance agency, without legal authority, carried out monitoring to suppress the opposition. Yet, the perpetrators fell into the trap they themselves had set. Like angels recording deeds, NTMC had documented their crimes without their knowledge," he said.

The tribunal scheduled the indictment of Salman F Rahman and Anisul Haq for 12 January. This morning, the accused were brought under heavy security from prison to the tribunal. The prosecution had requested the tribunal to begin proceedings on 4 January. The defence, through lawyer Monsurul Haq Chowdhury, contested the indictment and sought exemption for the two accused.