Tribunal orders newspaper notice for 12 accused including Shamim Osman

The International Crimes Tribunal has ordered the publication of a newspaper notice asking 12 accused, including former lawmaker Shamim Osman, to appear before the court in a case over killings and crimes against humanity committed in Narayanganj's Fatullah and Signboard areas during the anti-discrimination movement.

The court passed the order after law enforcement agencies failed to apprehend the accused. It also fixed 15 March for the next hearing in the case.

The tribunal directed its registrar to publish the notice in one Bangla and one English daily.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the order today (4 March) following a prosecution plea.

Prosecutor Tarek Abdullah represented the prosecution at the hearing and informed the court about progress in executing arrest warrants against the accused. He said law enforcement personnel visited both permanent and temporary addresses of the accused but could not find them. In this context, the prosecution sought permission to publish notices in two national dailies directing the 12 accused to appear before the tribunal. The tribunal allowed the plea and ordered publication of the notices.

Speaking to journalists, the prosecutor said if the accused fail to surrender after publication of the notice, the tribunal will begin hearings on framing charges in their absence and proceed with the trial. The tribunal will appoint defence lawyers at state expense for the fugitives.

Shamim Osman and his son Ayon Osman are among the main accused in the case. The prosecution has not yet disclosed the names of the other 10 accused.

Earlier, on 19 January, the tribunal took cognisance of the formal charges filed by the prosecution against the 12 accused and issued arrest warrants.

According to the prosecution, 10 people were killed in the Fatullah-Signboard area of Narayanganj on 19 and 21 July and 5 August 2024. It alleges that all the accused were armed during the mass uprising. Based on these allegations, three charges of crimes against humanity have been brought against Shamim Osman and the 12 accused.