Hasina, Aziz Charge Framing Rescheduled for November 1

The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) has rescheduled the hearing on charge framing against 41 individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to November 1 in a case involving genocide and crimes against humanity. The charges stem from the violent crackdown on a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka on May 5, 2013, and subsequent violence across the country the following day.

A two-member bench of ICT-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, issued the order on Wednesday following a time petition filed by the defense team. Advocate Mansurul Hoque Chowdhury represented the defense during the proceedings, while prosecutors Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, Farook Ahmed, Zahirul Amin, and Moinul Karim represented the state. The prosecution raised no objections to the adjournment request.

During the court session, eleven incarcerated high-profile suspects were produced before the tribunal. Among those present were former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former State Minister for Home Affairs Shamsul Hoque Tuku, former Food Minister Dr. Abdus Razzaque, former Foreign Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, former Textiles Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, former IGP Shahidul Hoque, retired Major General Ziaul Ahsan, and senior journalist Shahriar Kabir.

Thirty of the 41 accused, including Sheikh Hasina and several former cabinet members, security chiefs, and political leaders, remain absconding. The tribunal had previously ordered notices published in two national dailies directing them to surrender by September 16. Following a Non-Execution Report from law enforcement confirming the accused could not be located, ICT-2 declared them official absconders and appointed state-defending counsel at government expense.

The formal prosecution charges focus on two major incidents: the alleged killing of 32 people during the May 5 clearance operation at Shapla Chattar, and the secondary violence on May 6 that resulted in 20 deaths in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj. ICT-2 had formally taken cognizance of these charges on July 27, issuing arrest warrants for the absconders and directing law enforcement agencies to produce all detained individuals.