The police produced 19 high-profile individuals, including several former ministers and advisers to the prime minister, before the International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday in a case filed over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, granted the chief prosecutor two months fresh time to complete the investigation against Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader and 44 others, including those presented before the court.
Among those produced were former ministers Anisul Huq, Amir Hossain Amu, Abdur Razzaque, Rashed Khan Menon, Shahjahan Khan, Qamrul Islam, retired lieutenant colonel Mohammad Faruk Khan, Hasanul Haq Inu, Kamal Ahmed Majumder, Golam Dastagir Gazi and Dipu Moni.
Others named in the case include former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and former prime ministerial advisers Salman F Rahman and Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.
Also accused are retired Appellate Division judge AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, former home secretary Jahangir Alam, former lawmaker Solaiman Selim, former inspector general of police Abdullah Al-Mamun and former military officer Ziaul Ahsan.
They were brought before the tribunal on the same day when the final probe report into their alleged involvement in the July violence was scheduled for submission.
From inside the prison van, Palak was heard voicing frustration, 鈥楢 country cannot run like this鈥攑eople want change, people want peace.鈥�
Former minister Shahjahan Khan, criticising their treatment, said, 鈥榃e didn鈥檛 handcuff the Razakars鈥攚hy are we being handcuffed? This is shameful.鈥�
On-duty police officers informed the International Crimes Tribunal that former minister Shahjahan Khan also rudely behaved with them for producing the accused in court in handcuffs and helmets.
The police also alleged that retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan had previously twisted one of their fellow鈥檚 hand when he tried to guide him into the courtroom. On Sunday, Ahsan reportedly threw a helmet at police personnel inside the lockup after he was asked to wear it along with handcuffs.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, also accused in the ICT case, fled to India amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, with 25 others accused in the case also remaining absconding.
