ICT-1 to hear charge-framing arguments against Nanak, Taposh in humanity case today

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today (April 15) is set to hear arguments on framing charges against former Textile and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of nine people in Mohammadpur during the July 2024 uprising.

Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder of the International Crimes Tribunal-1 is expected to hear arguments on charge framing.

A total of 28 individuals have been listed in the case. Among them, four accused-banned Chhatra League Mohammadpur unit president Naimul Hasan Russel, vice-president Sazzad Hossain, Omar Faruq, and Fazle Rabbi-are currently in custody and produced before the tribunal.

Several high-profile accused remain absconding, including former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional DIG Proloy Kumar Joarder, former Joint Commissioner Bipul Kumar Sarkar, and former DSCC ward councillor Syed Hasan Noor Islam.

According to prosecution documents, the charges relate to violence during the July 18–19 protests in 2024, when alleged attacks by Awami League, Chhatra League activists, and members of law enforcement resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Faiyaz.

The tribunal had earlier deferred the hearing scheduled for April 8 after procedural documents were not fully submitted by the prosecution. The court subsequently fixed April 15 for the resumed hearing, which is expected to begin with arguments from the prosecution.

On January 18 this year, the tribunal accepted the formal charges and issued arrest warrants against all 28 accused in the case.