Tribunal Takes Cognizance of Charges Against Seven Including Amu and Shajahan, Warrant Issued for Mirza Azam

The International Crimes Tribunal has taken into cognizance formal charges against seven people, including Awami League presidium member Amir Hossain Amu, in a case over crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising. The activities of the Awami League are banned. At the same time, six of the accused have been ordered to be produced and an arrest warrant has been issued against one.

On Thursday, November 5, a three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by its chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, gave the order. The other two members of the panel are Judge Md. Manjurul Bachid and Judge Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

Under the order, the six accused who are in jail have been directed to be produced, and an arrest warrant has been issued against Mirza Azam. The tribunal set November 22 for the next hearing of the case.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim appeared for the prosecution at the tribunal. He was joined by prosecutors Faruk Ahammad, Marjina Raihan, Shahidul Islam Sardar and other prosecutors.

At the hearing, Prosecutor Tamim presented the charges brought in the case. He also sought cognizance of the charges on prima facie grounds. In addition, he sought production warrants for the six arrested accused and an arrest warrant for one accused.

After hearing the prosecution, the tribunal took the formal charges against the seven into cognizance in this crimes against humanity case. Of them, six were ordered to be produced and an arrest warrant was issued against one.

Apart from Amir Hossain Amu, the other accused are Awami League organising secretary Mirza Azam, former shipping minister Shajahan Khan, former civil aviation and tourism minister Lieutenant Colonel (retd.) Faruk Khan, former agriculture minister Abdur Razzak, ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's former adviser on power, energy and mineral resources Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, and former minister Dr. Dipu Moni.

Of the accused, all except Mirza Azam are in jail.

Earlier, on November 2, the prosecution filed formal charges against the seven heavyweight Awami League leaders. The accused face charges of crimes against humanity, including attacks and incitement, in suppressing the student-people's movement in July-August.

According to the prosecution's charges, these leaders played the biggest role at the policy-making level of the Awami League government in suppressing the July-August 2024 movement.

According to the prosecution, they took part in meetings of the 14-party alliance and were involved in taking political decisions to suppress the movement, imposing a curfew and planning killings by using it. Following that, killings were carried out across the country. The prosecution has brought superior command responsibility charges against all seven leaders, including Amir Hossain Amu.