The International Crimes Tribunal on Tuesday allowed the Investigation Agency to interrogate former Awami League lawmaker ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury in custody on April 16 in connection with the killing of six people during the July uprising in Chattogram.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice Golam Murtoza Mozumder also set April 17 for hearing a petition seeking bail for the former Awami League lawmaker. This is the first bail prayer in a case related to the 2024 mass uprising under the ICT Act.
Fazle Karim鈥檚 lawyer Abdul Quiyum submitted the bail petition citing his client鈥檚 deteriorating health condition due to old age.
On the same day, the tribunal ordered the detention of Chattogram Juba League leader Mohammad Firoz in jail in the same case.
Both Fazle Karim and Firoz were produced before the tribunal earlier in the day.
They were detained in jail in separate cases after being arrested earlier.
Prosecutor Abdullah Al Noman told the tribunal that six people, including Chittagong College student Wasim Akram, were shot dead during the uprising by a group of people allegedly led by Fazle Karim.
The prosecution claimed to have prima facie evidence against him.
In his defence, Fazle Karim denied any involvement, stating that he was never active in Chattogram鈥檚 local politics.
On March 25, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against 15 Awami League leaders in connection with the July uprising.
The list includes former ministers Hasan Mahmud and Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, former Chattogram mayor Rezaul Karim, and the party鈥檚 city unit general secretary AJM Nasir Uddin.
Other accused named in the case include AL leader Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babor, former Bangladesh Chhatra League city unit general secretary Nurul Azim Rony, and Chandgaon Thana Swechchhasebak League president Mohiuddin Farhad.
The names of several other accused have been withheld by the prosecution to prevent them from evading arrest.
Prosecutor Noman said that none of the accused named in the case could be arrested so far.
