By Dhaka Correspondent
The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Sunday expressed hope that witness testimonies in the crimes against humanity case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun would be completed by October.
“Except for the investigation officer, we hope to finish recording the testimonies of the material witnesses by September. At the latest, it may extend to the first week of October,” prosecutor Mizanul Islam told reporters.
Four new prosecution witnesses testified today and were later cross-examined by the defence. With their statements, a total of nine prosecution witnesses have testified so far.
The tribunal formally indicted Hasina, Kamal, and Al-Mamun on July 10 for their alleged roles in crimes against humanity committed during the July–August mass uprising last year.
Earlier, on June 16, ICT-1 ordered publication of notices in two national dailies, one in Bangla and one in English, asking the two fugitive accused to surrender before the court. On June 17, the tribunal issued another notice specifying:
as per Rule 31 of the International Crimes (Tribunal-1) Rules of Procedure 2010 (Amendment), 2025, they are hereby ordered to surrender at this tribunal on June 24, 2025. Otherwise, trial will be held in their absence as per Section 10A of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.”
The ICT first took cognizance of the formal charges on June 1 and set June 16 for further proceedings. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam later noted that Hasina and Kamal had not yet been arrested, and police sources suggested they were currently in India.
The prosecution has filed five counts of crimes against humanity against Hasina, Kamal, and Al-Mamun. The ICT investigation agency submitted its probe report on May 12 regarding the case involving crimes against humanity and mass killings.