ICT case against Hasina: Probe report submission likely today

The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is likely to submit its report today in a case filed against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina for her alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed during last year's July Uprising.

"The investigation agency and the prosecution team are working on the final stages. We hope to submit the investigation report against Sheikh Hasina and the other accused to the Chief Prosecutor's Office on Monday," Abdullah Al Noman, the tribunal's prosecutor, told The Business Standard yesterday evening.

Earlier, on 9 May, ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam had announced the development through a Facebook post.

According to procedure, the investigation report is first submitted to the Chief Prosecutor's Office, which then reviews the report and submits a formal charge to the tribunal.

In his post, Tazul Islam wrote, "The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal is expected to submit its probe report on the July genocide against Sheikh Hasina to the chief prosecutor this Monday. After the report is submitted, formal charges will be filed to officially begin the trial proceedings against Hasina."

Following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August last year, the tribunal was reconstituted. The first case filed at the newly structured tribunal involved charges of genocide, murder, and other crimes against humanity during the July uprising, naming Sheikh Hasina as the primary accused. 

Later, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who served as the Inspector General of Police during the uprising, was also named as an accused in the case.

The deadline for submitting the investigation report has already been extended three times. On 20 April, the prosecution requested another extension, and the tribunal granted an additional two months, setting 24 June as the new deadline. 

Meanwhile, the investigation agency has already submitted its final report on a separate case linked to the July Uprising, where six people were reportedly shot dead on 5 August near Dhaka's Chankharpul area – just before Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India. 

This case includes eight accused, including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Habibur Rahman.

This is the first completed investigation report submitted in any of the tribunal's July uprising-related cases. The prosecution has taken four weeks to file formal charges based on the report and is expected to submit them by 25 May, though they may be filed earlier.

Tazul Islam, in his Facebook post, wrote, "The investigation report in the Chankharpul killings case has already been submitted. The formal charge will be filed within this week, officially initiating the trial for the July genocide."