Opening Statements Begin in Trial of 28, Including Nanak and Tapas

The trial for crimes against humanity involving 28 individuals—including former minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak and former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas—begins today.

The case centers on the killing of nine people in the capital's Mohammadpur area during the July uprising. On Monday (June 8), the prosecution will deliver its opening statement to the three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1), led by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumder.

Witness testimonies will commence immediately afterward.Currently, four accused are detained in jail: Naimul Hasan Russell, Mohammadpur branch president of the banned Chhatra League, and vice-presidents Sajjad Hossain, Omar Faruk, and Fazle Rabbi. The remaining 24 accused are absconding.

Notable figures among them include former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former Additional DIG Prolay Kumar Joarder, former DMP Joint Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarkar, ADC Rawshunul Haque, and DNCC Ward 32 Councilor Syed Hasan Nur Islam Rashtran. Other named fugitives include MA Sattar, Tofail, Tarequzzaman, Arifur Rahman Tuhin, Ahad Hossain, Md. Yunus, Molla Rubel, Azizul Haque, Riaz Mahmud, Hridoy, Mainul Islam, Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, Zahir Uddin, Ayman, and Sentu Mia.Earlier, on May 10, the tribunal formally indicted the 28 individuals on three charges, paving the way for the trial.

The four detained accused pleaded not guilty and appealed for justice, after which the tribunal set today's date for opening statements. The prosecution alleges that Awami League, Chhatra League, and law enforcement agencies committed widespread atrocities on July 18 and 19, 2024, during the student movement. According to the charges, innocent students and civilians were fired upon with the direct and indirect instigation of the accused. The violence left many injured and claimed the lives of nine people, including Mahmudur Rahman Saikat and Farhan Faiyaz.