The high-profile trial against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal over alleged crimes against humanity during the July-August 2024 uprising entered its second day on Monday at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), with witness depositions continuing.

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, previously listed as a co-accused but now cooperating as a state witness, appeared before the tribunal this morning to provide testimony. He is currently in custody and has been granted conditional leniency in exchange for full disclosure regarding the events under investigation.

The tribunal began hearing witness statements yesterday (3 August), following opening arguments by Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman and Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam, both of whom urged the court to deliver the maximum penalty against the accused.

The first witness to testify was Khokon Chandra Barmon, a protester who sustained facial injuries during a demonstration in Dhaka's Jatrabari area on 5 August 2024. He recounted the violent crackdown that occurred that day and accused Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating the mass killing that took place in July.

Barmon, showing visible scars from the incident, demanded justice and described the attack as part of a coordinated campaign to suppress dissent.

Earlier on 10 July, ICT-1 formally opened trial proceedings against Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. The trio faces grave charges of incitement and direct involvement in violence that allegedly led to the deaths of over 1,400 people during the political unrest.

While Mamun is now under state custody, both Hasina and Kamal remain fugitives, with the tribunal issuing repeated calls for their surrender to face justice.