ICT sets 17 Dec for charge-framing against Joy, Anisul, Salman, Palak

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday scheduled 17 December for the charge-framing hearing in two crimes against humanity cases involving four senior figures of the Awami League regime, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The other accused are former law minister Anisul Huq, Hasina’s former adviser Salman F Rahman, and former state minister for information and communication technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

They face allegations of mass killings during the 2024 mass uprising, which followed a nationwide internet shutdown.

The tribunal, ICT-1, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, set the date following hearings.

A public notice summoning Joy to appear in court has also been ordered for publication in two newspapers.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said that if Joy fails to appear, a state-appointed defence lawyer will represent him and he will be tried in absentia.

On 4 December, the tribunal accepted formal charges against all four and issued an arrest warrant for Joy.

Anisul, Salman, and Palak are already in custody in several other cases and were produced before the court on Wednesday.

Joy and Palak face charges in one case, while Anisul and Salman are accused in another. Their lawyer Monsurul Haque Chowdhury filed a petition seeking permission for Anisul and Salman to hire foreign lawyers.

The tribunal said a decision would be issued later. Monsurul noted that foreign lawyers require bar council approval, which would allow them to represent the accused without obstacles if granted.

Palak’s lawyer, Barrister M Liton Ahmed, raised complaints that prison authorities had denied his client weekly phone calls and fortnightly visits.

He also claimed Palak lost privileges for singing the national anthem and chanting the Joy Bangla slogan, which he reportedly did while being taken back to prison last week. The tribunal promised to ensure compliance with the law.