July-August mass killing: ICT may accept Badruddin Umar's testimony as evidence
Badruddin Umar passed away this morning en route to a hospital in the capital
Writer, activist, intellectual, and leftist political figure Badruddin Umar, who passed away this morning, had given a statement to the investigating officer in a crime against humanity case against the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others.
"Badruddin Umar was an important witness. Although he never appeared before the tribunal to give testimony, he had provided a statement to the investigating officer," International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim told reporters today (7 September).
The case names Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun as accused, Prosecutor Monawar said, adding that so far, 36 witnesses have testified in the case.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Former IGP Mamun has also provided testimony as a state witness in the case.
Asked whether Badruddin Umar's death would weaken the prosecution, he explained that under the ICT Act, if a witness dies after giving a statement to investigators, the tribunal may accept that testimony upon the prosecution's application.
"While the law allows it, the prosecution has not yet decided whether to submit Badruddin Umar's testimony in court," he added.
Badruddin Umar passed away this morning en route to a hospital in the capital due to age-related complications.
People from different sectors, including Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, condoled the death of the 94-year-old writer.
In a condolence message on Facebook, the chief adviser said Badruddin Umar, who began his career as a lecturer at Dhaka University before joining Rajshahi University, was "a bright lighthouse of our struggle for free thought and progress."
