ICT to deliver order tomorrow on framing charges against Hasan Mahmud, Nowfel, and 20 others
The case concerns the killing of six individuals during the July Movement.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 has set tomorrow (30 June) to deliver its order on whether to frame charges against 22 individuals, including former foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud and former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, in a case involving crimes against humanity.
The case concerns the killing of six individuals, including Chhatra Dal leader Wasim, in Chattogram during the July Movement.
The two-member judicial panel, led by ICT-2 Justice Md Manjurul Bashid, fixed the date today (29 June) following the conclusion of arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
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Defence counsel Advocate Mizanur Rahman concluded his third day of arguments, seeking the discharge of the accused, citing insufficient evidence and alleging a flawed investigation.
Advocate Abdul Kaiyum represented former Chattogram-6 lawmaker Fazle Karim Chowdhury. He concluded his arguments seeking his client's discharge on 28 June.
On 24 June, state-appointed defence lawyers Md Amir Hossain, Abul Hasan, Ishrat Jahan and Mohammad Enam argued on behalf of the fugitive accused.
On 22 June, the prosecution sought charges against all 22 accused, saying a prima facie case had been established. The tribunal fixed tomorrow for its decision after hearing both sides.
The prosecution team included Mizanul Islam, Abdus Sobhan Torofder, Faruk Ahmad and Zahirul Amin. Of the five accused arrested, four were produced before the tribunal today, while former MP Fazle Karim Chowdhury was absent.
Besides Hasan Mahmud, the fugitive accused include former education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former Chattogram City Corporation mayors AJM Nasir Uddin and Rezaul Karim, Mohiuddin Bacchu, Helal Akbar, Nurul Azim Rony, Shaibal Das Suman, Abu Saleque, Esbarul Haque, HM Mithu, Nur Mostafa Tinu, Jamir Uddin, Imran Hasan Mahmud, Jakaria Dastagir, Mohiuddin Farhad and Suman Dey.
On 7 April, Tribunal-2 took cognisance of formal charges against the 22 accused under three counts, following the prosecution's submission of the charge sheet on 5 April.
The charges relate to the killings of Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanto, Md Faruk, Tanvir Siddiqui, Saimon alias Mahim and Hridoy Chandra, and the serious injury of more than 100 students and civilians, including Zahid Hasan, Abdul Kader, Asiya Khatun, Sanjida Sultana and Abdullah.
