July uprising: ICT seeks probe report on ex-IGP Mamun, 7 others by 28 Apr

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has set 28 April for submission of the investigation report on allegations of crimes against humanity and mass killings in July uprising against former police chief (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, former National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) Director General Major General (Retd) Ziaul Ahsan, and six other officials.

The tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza, issued the order today (20 February), after reviewing the prosecution's application for additional investigation time. 

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam represented the state during the hearing.

Additionally, the tribunal approved the prosecution's request to interrogate Mamun on 23 February. 

The court has ordered the submission of progress reports and final investigation findings for all 23 accused individuals by the set date.

The individuals presented before the tribunal today include Former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Former Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Jatrabari police station Abul Hasan, Former NTMC Director General Major General (Retd.) Ziaul Ahsan, Former Superintendent of Dhaka Police (SP) Md Abdullah Al-Kafi, Former Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Mirpur) Md. Jasim Uddin Mollah, Former Additional SP (Savar Circle) Md Shahidur Islam, Former OC of DMP Gulshan police station Md Mazharul Haque, and Former Detective Branch (DB) Inspector (Dhaka North) Md Arafat Hossain.

Regarding the interrogation of former IGP Mamun, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters, "Armoured personnel carrier [APC]s, helicopters, and lethal weapons were used. He [Mamun] had previously given a statement, but we need more details from him. 

"Who ordered the helicopter operations? Who was on board? How many flights were conducted? What types of weapons were transported? As the police chief, he should have knowledge of these matters. We requested a one-day interrogation session, and the tribunal has granted permission for 23 February."

The allegations stem from mass killings and crimes against humanity committed between 1 July and 5 August of last year, as part of efforts to suppress the 2024 student-people mass uprising. 

About 125 complaints were submitted to the prosecution office, with additional reports being filed with the International Crimes Tribunal's investigation agency. 

On 27 October, the ICT ordered 14 accused to be produced before it on 18 November.

Thirteen people, including nine former ministers of the ousted Awami League government, were subsequently presented in court. 

But former agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque could not be brought before the tribunal due to falling sick.

Besides, the court had directed that former IGP Mamun, former army officer Ziaul, and the other police officials be presented on 20 November, as per schedule.

Arrest warrants were issued for 17 former police officials on 20 November, and those already in custody were brought before the tribunal.