‘The allegations are false, I am innocent’

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Wednesday formally framed charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak. The duo is accused of committing crimes against humanity during the student-led July Mass Uprising.

A three-member judicial panel, led by ICT-1 Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order in the afternoon. Other members included Justice Md. Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md. Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

The tribunal read out three specific charges related to the events of July and August 2024:

Palak is accused of posting provocative social media statuses on the instructions of Sajeeb Wazed Joy. These posts allegedly instigated attacks by police and party activists on protesters at Dhaka University and nationwide.

The accused are charged with orchestrating a nationwide internet shutdown to facilitate mass killings and torture in areas like Badda, Uttara, and Rampura. The prosecution cited a phone conversation between Palak and Salman F. Rahman regarding the blackout.

The accused are held responsible for the violence in Uttara on the final day of the uprising, which resulted in numerous deaths, including those of Jabid Ibrahim and Shamsul Alam.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, brought from prison for the hearing, pleaded not guilty. "All the charges read out against me are false. I am innocent," he told the court.

As Sajeeb Wazed Joy remains at large, the court appointed a state-defense lawyer to represent him. The defense team also requested the inclusion of foreign legal counsel for the trial. The tribunal has set February 18, 2026, for the next hearing to record testimonies and present opening statements.