10th Witness to Testify in Crimes Against Humanity Case Against Nanak, Taposh and 26 Others

The International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to record the testimony of the tenth prosecution witness on Monday in a crimes against humanity case involving former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and 26 other defendants. The case concerns the alleged shooting deaths of nine people in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area during the July 2024 mass uprising.

The testimony is scheduled to be heard by a judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, on Monday, October 12.

According to prosecution sources, the statement of the tenth prosecution witness will be recorded today. The testimony had previously been scheduled for October 8. Although the witness appeared before the tribunal that day, the prosecution sought additional time because an investigating officer in another case was due to testify. The tribunal granted the request and fixed October 12 for the hearing.

On September 30, Sabrina Afroze Sebanti, sister of victim Mahmudur Rahman Saikat, testified as the ninth witness in the case.

Four Defendants in Custody, Others at Large
Four of the 28 defendants are currently in custody: Naimul Hasan Russell, president of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Mohammadpur thana unit; vice-president Sajjad Hossain; Ansar member Omar Faruk; and Jubo League activist Fazle Rabbi.

Other defendants reported to be at large include Nanak and Taposh, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joardar, former DMP Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker, former Additional Deputy Commissioner Roushunul Haque, M A Sattar, former Dhaka North City Corporation ward-32 councillor Syed Hasan Noor Islam Rastran, and Sheikh Bazlur Rahman. Several other leaders and activists of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations are also among the accused.

Trial Proceeding on Three Charges
On May 10, International Crimes Tribunal-1 ordered the trial to begin on three charges based on the formal charges submitted by the prosecution.

According to the prosecution, on July 18 and 19, 2024, during the student-led mass uprising, indiscriminate firing took place in Mohammadpur allegedly at the instigation, direction and participation of the defendants. Nine people, including students Farhan Faiyaz and Mahmudur Rahman Saikat, were killed, while many other protesters were injured.

The case is currently at the witness examination stage. The allegations against the defendants are being considered through judicial proceedings.