Second day of arguments against Sheikh Hasina, 2 others today

The second day of arguments in the case over crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising will be presented on Monday (October 13) against Sheikh Hasina and two other accused. The hearing will take place at Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mazumder.

On Sunday, October 12, Chief Prosecutor Tazul Islam delivered the opening arguments, which were broadcast live alongside the proceedings.

At the outset, the Chief Prosecutor highlighted the “misrule” of the Awami League regime in 1972, saying, “That was where the rise of fascism began. Through the BAKSAL system and the Rakkhi Bahini, 30,000 people were killed. Hasina applied the same method for 17 consecutive years.”

He further accused the defendants of destroying the judiciary, orchestrating the Pilkhana massacre, undermining the morale of the armed forces, and being responsible for enforced disappearances and crossfires—demanding the highest punishment for them.

The Chief Prosecutor also stated that the arrest warrants issued by the International Crimes Tribunal against army personnel in enforced disappearance cases had been duly sent to the concerned authorities. He added, “There must be specific provisions to prevent judicial arbitrariness during hearings.”

Meanwhile, Tribunal-2 is set to record testimony on Monday in the tenth session of the case over the murder of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed in Rangpur.

The other two accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, who later became a state witness. Earlier, on Wednesday, October 8, the cross-examination of the 54th and final witness, Investigating Officer Md. Alamgir, was completed.