Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 has fixed 11 January for a hearing on charge framing in a crimes against humanity case involving Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, a former state minister for the ICT Division.
The order was passed on Wednesday morning as part of proceedings linked to allegations surrounding the nationwide internet shutdown during the July uprising.
The tribunal had earlier, on December 17, 2025, ordered the appointment of a state defence counsel for Joy after he failed to appear before the court, despite notices being published in national newspapers. Joy is currently listed as absconding in the case. Prior to that, on 10 December, the tribunal directed the authorities to issue public notices asking him to appear on 17 December.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution during Wednesday’s hearing, while Advocate Liton Ahmed appeared on behalf of the other accused, former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
On 4 December, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against both Joy and Palak after taking cognisance of the formal charges filed by the prosecution. The charges revolve around allegations that the accused played a key role in the suspension of internet services across Bangladesh during the July protests, which prosecutors argue facilitated crimes against humanity.
According to the prosecution, Palak, while serving as state minister for the ICT Division, acted on instructions and approval from Joy, who was then an adviser on ICT affairs. The prosecutors allege that Palak first slowed down mobile internet services before ordering a complete shutdown, creating conditions that enabled the detention, torture and killing of protesters.
The prosecution further claimed that Palak later issued misleading public statements about the shutdown and blocked several social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok, to prevent information about alleged violence from reaching the outside world.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal that the decision to block internet services originated with Joy, who, according to the prosecution, decided after consulting his mother, Sheikh Hasina. Palak, according to the prosecution, then implemented the plan through the ICT Division.
The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its probe report against the accused on 3 December 2025, paving the way for formal charge framing.
The upcoming hearing on 11 January will determine whether the tribunal formally frames charges against the accused, allowing the case to move to the trial stage. The proceedings are being closely watched due to the high-profile nature of the defendants and the wider implications for accountability over the events surrounding the July uprising.
