Charges framed against Salman and Anisul

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 yesterday set February 10 for the start of the trial in a crimes against humanity case against deposed prime minister’s adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Huq.

The three-member tribunal fixed the date after framing five charges against the two.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, framed the charges after rejecting discharge petitions filed by the defence. Tribunal member Justice Shofiul Alam Mahmood read out the charges.

While framing the charges, the tribunal said it found sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused after examining the formal charge and the evidence on record.

CHARGES

According to Charge 1, Salman and Anisul, acting through the then prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the former home minister and leaders of the 14-party alliance, ordered, abetted and incited crimes against humanity during the July uprising.

Charge 2 alleges that the accused conspired to suppress the protests by imposing curfews and directing law enforcers and party cadres to use lethal weapons, resulting in the killing of Sifat Howlader and serious injuries to many others on July 20, 2024.

Charge 3 states that Salman and Anisul ordered and facilitated lethal attacks in the Mirpur-10 area, killing Akhtaruzzaman and injuring numerous protesters.

Charge 4 alleges that at their instigation, coordinated attacks on August 4, 2024, killed at least 12 people and injured many others in Dhaka city.

Charge 5 alleges that the accused continued curfew-backed repression on August 5, 2024, resulting in the killing of 15 people in Dhaka.

The prosecution said the alleged acts amount to murder, complicity and conspiracy under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.