ICT sets fresh dates in some high-profile cases

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Wednesday set fresh dates in several high-profile cases over crimes against humanity committed during the 2024 mass uprising. The cases include the killing of protesters in Uttara and Savar and the alleged involvement of two retired military officers in the 2024 atrocities.
At the same time, the ICT-2 fixed 26 October for hearing a contempt of court case against two Supreme Court lawyers – M Hasanuzzaman Tushar and Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury – over their controversial comments on the 15 September ICT verdict regarding death sentences for Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six others. 
The two pro-AL lawyers appeared before ICT-2 in person following a summon issued by the tribunal earlier. Many lawyers gathered outside the tribunal premises during their appearance.
One of the accused lawyers described the ICT as a “kangaroo court” and the verdict as “illegal and baseless”. The other allegedly made objectionable remarks in social-media comments.

Probe report on two ex-military officers deferred
In a separate proceeding, the ICT-2 granted the prosecution additional time to submit its investigation report against death-row convict in Ziaur Rahman murder case Maj (retd) Mozaffar Hossain and Lt Gen (retd) Masud Uddin Chowdhury regarding crimes against humanity committed in Feni during the 2024 mass uprising. The tribunal fixed 23 November for the report submission.
ICT Prosecutor Zahirul Amin informed the tribunal about the progress of the investigation and sought extra time to complete the probe. 
Mozaffar, who had been absconding for nearly 45 years in connection with the 1981 assassination of President Ziaur Rahman, was arrested on 15 July. On 23 July, the tribunal formally showed him arrested in the case.
According to the prosecution, investigation revealed regular communication between Mozaffar and Masud Uddin during the crackdown on protesters in July 2024. Masud was arrested from his DOHS Baridhara residence on 23 March.

Charge-framing order in Uttara massacre case
In another development, ICT-2 deferred until 11 October the order on framing formal charges against 26 accused over the deaths of Mir Mahfuzur Rahman Mugdh and 10 others at Uttara in the capital. The order was postponed as tribunal member Justice Md Manjurul Basid is ill.
Eight of the accused are in custody, while 18 are fugitives.
According to the allegations, protesters came under indiscriminate firing at Uttara on 18 July 2024 where Mugdha and six others were killed. Uber driver Mokhlesur Rahman Durjoy was run over by a police armoured personnel carrier and his body was subsequently thrown into the River Turag.
Four more people were killed and another seriously injured the following day. The prosecution has described the incidents as planned, widespread and systematic crimes against humanity.

Yamin killing case moves to 18 Oct 
The tribunal also set 18 October for the hearing on framing charges against 19 accused, including former MP Saiful Islam, in the case over the killing of Ashabul Yamin in Savar.
Six accused were produced before the tribunal, while 13 others remain fugitives.
The prosecution sought additional time to prepare for the charge-framing hearing.
Police and Awami League activists attacked protesters at Savar bus stand on 18 July 2024.
Yamin was dragged towards a police armoured vehicle and shot in the left side of his chest. The prosecution further alleges that he was placed on the vehicle and driven around to intimidate protesters before being left on the road.
Yamin was still breathing when he was dragged to a roadside divider. Local people later rescued him and took him to Enam Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.