Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Mohammad Tazul Islam -File Photo

DHAKA, Aug 03, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Muhammad Tajul Islam today said the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina was the nucleus of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.

"She was prime minister at the time, chief of the executive body, president of then ruling Awami League and leader of 14-party alliance. She was in the centre of all the power. She used to take all the important decisions as an autocratic ruler. She was the nucleus of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising," he said.

The ICT chief prosecutor said these in the opening statement submitted in the crimes against humanity case against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun at the ICT-1.

Tajul said the only goal of all the crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising was to keep Sheikh Hasina's power intact, adding, "All the other accused knew that their own safety and reward depend on Sheikh Hasina remaining in the power."

The chief prosecutor said the prosecution would produce eye witnesses, digital records, proof of government communication and forensic reports to prove the crimes against the accused.

He read out a script of telephonic conversation between Sheikh Hasina and her nephew and then Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh. Sheikh Hasina was heard in that conversation that she has already given order to fire from the helicopter and use lethal weapons against the agitating crowd.

Terming accused Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal a member of so-called "Gang of Four", Muhammad Tajul Islam said all the decisions for suppressing the mass uprising, were used to be taken from the meeting of a 'core committee' held at his Dhanmandi residence.

"Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on the other hand was the inspector general of police at the time and was a close associate of home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal. He was the direct controller of the law enforcing agencies. He along with Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal used to remain present on the spot to monitor whether the order to fire indiscriminately on the unarmed students and general people, is being implemented or not," he also said. 

Special Prosecutor Advisor to the ICT Barrister Toby Cadman, prosecutors Mizanul Islam, Md Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud and Abdullah Al Noman, were present, among others, during the hearing.