Government had fulfilled protesters' demands during July uprising, Palak's lawyer claims at tribunal

Former ICT state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak's lawyer Liton Ahmed has claimed that the government had fulfilled the protesters' demands during the July-August 2024 mass uprising.

He made the claim on Monday (9 November) afternoon while cross-examining a witness before a single bench of Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, chairman of International Crimes Tribunal-1.

In the crimes against humanity case over the killings carried out after shutting down the internet during the July mass uprising, the prosecution's 11th witness was cross-examined for a second day today.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, is also an accused in this case. The then coordinator of BRAC University testified against them on 19 October. His name and identity have not been disclosed for security reasons.

At one point during the cross-examination, Palak's lawyer Liton Ahmed asked the witness about his future plans after finishing his studies. In reply, the witness said he had not yet planned what he would do after completing his studies.

In reply to another question from the defence lawyer, the witness said he could not say when the quota system had started. However, in 2018 the quota system was abolished for first and second class appointments in government jobs. On 5 June 2024, the High Court declared that abolition order illegal and reinstated the quota system.

The witness said he did not remember whether anyone had appealed against that order. He also said he could not say what percentage of quota was retained in the Appellate Division's verdict of 21 July. But the movement was ongoing at that time.

Asked whether the government had repeatedly called on the protesters to sit for peace talks during the movement, the witness said he did not remember. At that point, lawyer Liton Ahmed claimed that during the movement the government had fulfilled the protesters' demands, yet they had continued the movement.

In reply, the witness denied that statement. He said that apart from quota reform, they had also joined the movement in protest against the attacks on protesters, the injuries and deaths, and the violence against women.

The witness further said that he is not affiliated with any political party, and was not affiliated during the movement either.

On how the movement was coordinated, the witness said, 'We used Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp and Telegram, subject to the internet being on. But we did not use Imo, Zoom, Skype or Yola.'

The witness said there was no contact with the coordinators on social media to increase the number of participants in the movement. The protesters took part voluntarily.