Nanak, Taposh Face Charges for Crimes Against Humanity Today

The International Crimes Tribunal will hold a hearing today on framing charges against 28 individuals, including former Textile and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, in a case over alleged crimes against humanity in Mohammadpur during the July 2024 uprising.

The accused are scheduled to be produced before the tribunal from jail.

The hearing will take place on Wednesday (April 15) before a panel led by Tribunal-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder.

Four accused are currently in custody: Naimul Hasan Russell, president of Mohammadpur police station unit of the banned Chhatra League, along with vice presidents Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk, and Fazle Rabbi.

Several others remain absconding, including former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional DIG Prolay Kumar Joarder, former DMP joint commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, and DNCC Ward 32 Councillor Syed Hasan Noor Islam.

The hearing was initially scheduled for April 8 but was postponed after defence lawyers said the prosecution had not provided required documents. The tribunal later fixed April 15, when the prosecution is expected to begin arguments.

The tribunal issued arrest warrants against all 28 accused on January 18 after accepting the prosecution’s formal complaint.

According to the charges, members of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and law enforcement agencies carried out attacks during protests on July 18–19, 2024. The prosecution alleges that the accused were directly or indirectly involved in shootings that killed at least nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Faiyaz, and injured many others.