Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina -File Photo

DHAKA, Oct 14, 2025 (BSS) – The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 today placed their arguments for third consecutive days in a case against three persons including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over their alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July-August Mass Uprising.

At the end of today’s prosecution, Justice  Golam Mortuza Mozumder, chairman of the three members’ panel of the tribunal, adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam continued placing the arguments, presenting different documentaries made on July Mass Uprising, audio records of the telephonic conversations between Sheikh Hasina and Hasanul Haque Inu and Sheikh Hasina and Barrister Fazle Noor Taposh , before the court.

He also referred testimonies of different prosecution witnesses and placed links between the crimes against humanity committed to suppress Mass Uprising in ‘systematic way’.

Earlier, a total of 54 prosecution witnesses — including the father of July martyr Abu Sayed, National Citizen’s Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam and journalist Mahmudur Rahman — testified in the case and were cross-examined by the defence counsel.

Advocate Amir Hossain, the state-appointed counsel for fugitives Sheikh Hasina and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, cross-examined the witnesses. Former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, another accused in the case, had earlier pleaded guilty and became an approver.

On June 17, ICT-1 published notices in two national dailies asking Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to surrender before the court by June 24.

“As per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure, 2010 (Amendment 2025), they are ordered to surrender before this tribunal on June 24, 2025. Otherwise, the trial will proceed in absentia under Section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973,” the notice said.

The tribunal issued the notices on June 16 after taking cognizance of the formal charges submitted on June 1.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul informed the court that Hasina and Kamal were absconding, citing intelligence reports suggesting that they were in India.

The prosecution brought five charges of crimes against humanity and mass killings against Hasina, Kamal and Abdullah Al-Mamun, based on a probe report filed by the ICT investigation agency on May 12. The tribunal framed the charges against the trio on July 10.