Trial begins against Hasina and her cohorts over July massacre

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 on Thursday indicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ex- Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun in a case over crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July-August uprising last year.

The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order paving the way for the formal trial of the trio.

The court fixed August 3 for opening statement and August 4 for recording the testimonies of witnesses.

The prosecution had filed a petition on July 1 seeking initiation of the trial following the submission of an investigation report on May 12 by the tribunal’s probe agency.

On June 1, the prosecution submitted formal charges against the three accused which the tribunal took into cognisance after hearing.

On August 14, 2024, charges of crimes against humanity were brought against Sheikh Hasina at the International Crimes Tribunal after her ouster on August 5 in a mass uprising.

The investigation into those charges began on October 14 last year.After six months and 28 days, the investigation concluded in May.