Tribunal orders appointment of state defence in fugitive Joy's trial

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today (17 December) ordered the appointment of a state defence counsel to represent ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who remains at large, in a crimes against humanity case.

The two-member tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order as Joy failed to appear before the tribunal despite the publication of newspaper notices asking him to do so.

The tribunal also set 7 January for holding a hearing on charge framing in the case, according to sources.

Earlier on 10 December, the tribunal ordered the authorities concerned to publish notices in daily newspapers asking Sajeeb Wazed Joy to appear before it today (17 December) to face trial for crimes against humanity.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam took part in the hearing, while Advocate Liton Ahmed stood for another accused in the case, former state minister for the ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

On 4 December, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking into cognisance the formal charge brought against him and former state minister for the ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

According to the formal charge, Joy and Palak are accused of shutting down nationwide internet services during the July Uprising, allegedly facilitating the commission of crimes against humanity.

"Palak, being the state minister for the ICT Division at the time, gave a status and made a post on his verified Facebook account after getting approval from Sheikh Hasina's ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, thereby instigating unprecedented attacks on agitating students and people by police and Chhatra League cadres," the prosecution said.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said Palak, following the order and approval from Joy, first reduced the speed of mobile internet services and subsequently shut them down to create an opportunity to detain, torture and kill the protesters.

"He then gave a false statement regarding the internet shutdown and later blocked several social networking sites, including WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok, to keep the world in the dark about the horrific crimes taking place at the time. The conspiracy to block the internet originated from Sajeeb Wazed Joy. He made the decision after taking advice from his mother Sheikh Hasina, and the decision was executed by Palak," the prosecution added.

The tribunal's investigation agency submitted the probe report against the accused on 3 December.