The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Wednesday ordered the investigation agency to complete investigation within a month into the cases filed against eight former government officials--seven policemen and a major general-in connection with killing, genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the students uprising in July-August.
"The investigation will have to be completed by December 19, 2024," the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder passed the order in presence of officials.
The officials included the former head of National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former inspector general of police.
The six other accused are Abdullahel Kafi, an additional superintendent of police; Mohammad Jasim Uddin Mollah, former Deputy Commissioner, Mirpur; Mohammad Shahidur Islam, former Additional SP, Abul Hasan, former Officer-in-Charge, Jatrabari Police Station; Mohammad Mazharul Haque, former officer-in-charge, Gulshan Police Station; and Arafat Hossain, former DB Inspector.
Earlier in the morning, the eight accused were produced before the ICT in connection with killings during the July-August mass uprising.
The court ordered keeping the eight accused in jail until the submission of the investigation reports, the chief prosecutor Advocate Tajul Islam said.
The chief prosecutor said that the accused were brought before the tribunal on Wednesday after being shown arrested in cases related to crimes against humanity. All of them are currently behind bars in connection with other cases.
On October 27, the ICT had ordered the authorities concerned to produce former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun, former army officer Ziaul Ahsan, and the other aforementioned police officials before it on November 20. As per the tribunal directive, the authorities concerned produced them before the tribunal at 10.20 am on Wednesday.
Various allegations, including killing, torture, abduction, and harassment, have been lodged with the ICT against the accused following the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5.
The July-August uprising, which began as a protest over government jobs, escalated into a full-blown anti-government movement, causing deaths to some 1,000 people and leaving many others injured, and bringing in an end to Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.
At one stage of hearing, former officer-in-charge (OC) of Gulshan Police Station Mazharul Islam broke into tears at the tribunal and claimed that he supported the students' movement.
"I did not kill any students. Please save me. I was never the OC of Savar during the movement," Mazharul said in the courtroom. "At that time, I was serving as the OC of Gulshan Police Station."
In the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam mistakenly alleged that Mazharul was involved in massacres in Savar during the protests.
Bursting into tears, Mazharul exclaimed, "I have never served in Savar. During July-August, I was in Gulshan. I am not guilty of any massacres."
In response, the tribunal assured him of justice. "If you are innocent, you will receive justice," the bench stated.
Later, Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam corrected his statement, clarifying that Mazharul was the OC of Gulshan during the movement.
He alleged, "Under his leadership, massacres were carried out in the Gulshan-Pragati Sarani area."
Meanwhile, Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan lost his temper during the hearing at the tribunal.
During the hearing, Ziaul Ahsan stood for a while, and when an on-duty police officer attempted to ask him to sit, he scolded the officer.
Addressing the judges from the dock, Ziaul Ahsan, visibly agitated, said, "I have never worked in the Aynaghar. I was in a technical role."
The court responded, saying, "The investigation is ongoing. You have a lawyer. If necessary, your lawyer will address the matter."
After the judges left the courtroom, the on-duty police officers went to escort the defendants from the dock to the prison cell. At this point, Ziaul told them, "No one will touch me, don't come near me. You have been beaten, and you will be beaten again in the future."
"I am not given paper and pen in the prison. I need to write. You must give me paper and pen. Give me everything that has been said against me, and I will review it," he shouted at the officers.
He appeared visibly agitated at the time. His lawyer, Nazneen Nahar, assured him that everything would be provided later.
As the police prepared to transfer him to the prison van, a few officers held his arms. He instructed them to let go of his hands.
During the hearing, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam compared Ziaul Ahsan's actions to those of Radovan Karadži?, the "butcher" of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He said, "Ziaul Ahsan was the architect of practices in Bangladesh such as enforced disappearance, torture, murder, and the disposal of bodies. During the Awami League government's tenure, he systematically abducted, tortured, and detained members of opposition political parties who attempted to speak out, many of whom have never returned."
Tajul Islam further said, "We have learned that BNP leader Ilias Ali was abducted and murdered under Ziaul's leadership."
Later, the tribunal fixed December 19 for further hearing on the matter.
