Trials in 8-10 cases of Jul-Aug atrocities may end before polls: Tajul

Trials in eight to 10 cases of crimes against humanity, committed during the July uprising last year, are expected to be completed before the upcoming national elections in February 2026, International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said today (30 August).

Speaking as a panellist at the Bengal Delta Conference 2025, Tajul noted that trials in two to three cases are already in full swing, while investigations into several others are nearing completion. 

"Accordingly, eight to 10 cases will be completed by February," he added. 

The panel discussion, titled 'Authoritarianism, Atrocity, and Accountability: Human Rights Abuses and Transitional Justice in Bangladesh', was part of the conference organised by the Dhaka Institute of Research and Analytics (Daira) at a hotel in the capital. 

At the event, Tajul explained that launching the trials was initially complicated, as much of the evidence was not readily available. 

Crucial observation records, including those held by the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC), had reportedly been destroyed, he said, adding, "The deleted records are now being recovered and used in the investigation."

He further mentioned that 23 new members of the tribunal's investigation agency, with no prior experience in probing crimes against humanity, are being trained to complete the investigations.

Highlighting the significance of the trials, Tajul stressed that the process must continue beyond the interim government period. 

"The next elected government will be expected to carry forward these trials. Otherwise, it will be a betrayal with the blood of the July-August martyrs. To ensure justice, the political forces of the July-August movement must remain united. There is no alternative to unity," he said.