Verdicts in two more July Uprising cases expected after Eid: Chief prosecutor

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Aminul Islam has expressed hope that verdicts in two more cases related to crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising will be delivered after Eid.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at his office today (24 May).

The chief prosecutor said trials are currently underway in 22 cases at the tribunal, while two cases are awaiting verdicts.

"We hope the verdicts in these cases will be delivered after Eid. Investigations into 31 cases are also at the final stage," he said.

Aminul added that, on a priority basis, investigations into 150 cases of enforced disappearance, killings and crossfire incidents have been taken up, and work has already begun.

The chief prosecutor said investigations are being given special importance in areas that witnessed the highest number of killings during the July uprising, including Narsingdi, Jatrabari, Mohammadpur and Rajshahi.

"In this regard, we have arranged special investigations by involving our prosecution team alongside the investigation officers. We hope to complete the reports soon and move to the trial stage," he said.

Verdicts in two cases — one involving the killing of six people in Kushtia during the July Uprising and another filed in Rampura — could be delivered any day. One case is pending before Tribunal-1 and the other before Tribunal-2.

Responding to a question on whether any investigation is underway to ban the Awami League as a political party, the chief prosecutor said he has no direct knowledge of such an investigation.

"I do not have any personal knowledge in this regard. Whether any investigation is underway can be confirmed by the concerned investigation authorities," he said.

He added that he is not aware of any investigation against any political organisation at this moment.

Replying to a question about the arrest of journalists Mozammel Babu and Farzana Rupa in connection with the Shapla Chattar case, and criticism from Amnesty International, Aminul said the tribunal had shown them arrested as the investigation agency may need to interrogate them.

He said Amnesty's reaction had not been reviewed by the tribunal.

"It would not be appropriate for anyone to interfere in an ongoing judicial process. There is no legal scope for such interference. This falls under the jurisdiction of the International Crimes Tribunal's investigation agency," he said.

Aminul added that no organisation, including Amnesty or other human rights bodies, should interfere in the process at this stage.