Cases against Hasina, others: ICT extends probe time by 2 months

The International Crimes Tribunal yesterday extended by two months the deadline for completing the investigations into two cases against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Alongside her, former roads and bridges minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and 44 others are currently facing charges in a case of crimes against humanity and genocide.

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Enforced disappearances: ‘Hasina herself was involved’

Hasina is the lone accused in the other case on the same charges.

A three-member bench, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mazumder, who is also the chairman of the ICT, passed the order and set February 18 as the new deadline.

The probe reports in both cases were due yesterday, but the investigating agency requested for more time, saying the process is following international standards, according to the prosecution.

Yesterday, 16 prominent individuals, including former ministers, bureaucrats, and other high-profile figures, were produced before the tribunal for the hearing on one of the cases.

However, Hasina, Quader, and some others, who were accused in both cases, could not be arrested as they are currently either in hiding or have fled the country.

The tribunal questioned law enforcement agencies as to why they had failed to arrest Quader, despite the issuance of a warrant. They were ordered to submit an explanation before the court within the next 15 days.

Media reports suggest that Quader had remained in the country for a good while even after the ouster of Hasina on August 5.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury yesterday said the government has been unaware of Quader's whereabouts since the fall of the AL government.

THE HEARING

The 16 accused were brought to the tribunal between 10:00am and 11:00am.

They included former law minister Anisul Huq; industries minister Amir Hossain Amu; food minister Qamrul Islam; civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (Retd) Faruk Khan; Workers' Party President Rashed Khan Menon; Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President Hasanul Haq Inu; former adviser on power, energy, and mineral resources Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury; and former ministers Kamal Ahmed Majumder and Golam Dastagir Gazi.

Others brought to the court included former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Jahangir Alam.

Of the 16 produced before the ICT yesterday, 15 were shown arrested in the case on November 18, with the exception of former agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, who was on remand at the time in a separate murder case filed on August 21. He was arrested on October 14.

Razzaque was produced before the ICT and shown arrested in the genocide case yesterday.

Before being presented in the courtroom, the 16 were seen discussing freely in the lock-up room for about half an hour. The hearing began around 11:15am in a packed courtroom.

Azizur Rahman Dulu, a defence lawyer representing Lt Col (Retd) Faruk Khan and Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, claimed his phone was seized upon entering the courtroom.

Responding to this, the judges present said it was an established practice to not allow phones inside the courtroom.

Dulu also claimed he had requested a copy of the allegations against his clients but had not yet received it.

The judges then said that, as it was part of an ongoing investigation, it was not the appropriate time to provide copies of the allegations.

Around 1:00pm -- half an hour after the hearing ended -- Zunaid Ahmed Palak was escorted to a prison van.

At that time, journalists asked, "Palak bhai, how are you?". He gave a brief response and then pressed a finger to his lips.

"Pray for me…. I have to keep mum," he said as he boarded the vehicle.

Later on, Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam briefed journalists about the hearing.

"All the accused assisted the prime accused Sheikh Hasina in initiating and executing the genocide. They were all involved in the decision-making at various levels.

"We informed the tribunal that we are continuing the investigation against Sheikh Hasina, who is accused of crimes against humanity and genocide during the July-August uprising."

He further said, "For the past 16 years, thousands of people have been subjected to enforced disappearances and inhumane torture in secret detention cells. Many were killed, their bodies tied to heavy cement bags and then thrown into rivers.

"The Commission for Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances found that Sheikh Hasina, her defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former DG of the NTMC Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, and senior police officers Monirul Islam and Md Harun-Or-Rashid were all involved in enforced disappearances. We presented this information to the tribunal."

Tajul further said, "It [the tribunal] has accepted the commission's report."

The ICT is currently trying two cases against Sheikh Hasina. In one, she is the sole accused, while in the other, she faces charges alongside 45 others, including Obaidul Quader.