Prosecutors at Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Sunday asked the court to frame charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak in a case alleging crimes against humanity linked to the July uprising.
Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a former adviser on ICT affairs, and Zunaid Ahmed Palak, a former State Minister for the ICT Division, are accused of orchestrating a nationwide internet shutdown that prosecutors say facilitated widespread violence against protesters.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam presented arguments during the hearing, urging the tribunal to proceed with formal charges. After hearing the submissions, the three-member tribunal adjourned proceedings until 15 January, when defence lawyers are expected to argue for the discharge of the accused.
Palak was represented in court by his counsel Liton Ahmed, while advocate Manjur Alam appeared as state-appointed defence counsel for Joy, who remains a fugitive.
The case centres on events during the July 2024 mass uprising, when authorities shut down mobile internet services across the country. Prosecutors allege the move was part of a coordinated plan to suppress protests and conceal security operations from public and international scrutiny.
According to the prosecution, Palak, acting as the state minister for ICT at the time, initially ordered the throttling of mobile internet speeds before enforcing a complete shutdown. The decision, prosecutors claim, was taken with the approval of Joy, who allegedly advised the prime minister on ICT matters.
Prosecutors further alleged that Palak later issued misleading public statements about the reasons for the shutdown and oversaw the blocking of social media platforms including Facebook, WhatsApp and TikTok. These actions, they said, prevented the dissemination of information about alleged killings, detentions and acts of violence carried out during the unrest.
“The conspiracy to shut down the internet originated from Sajeeb Wazed Joy,” Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal, adding that the decision was allegedly taken following consultations with then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and implemented by Palak.
The tribunal issued arrest warrants for both Joy and Palak on 4 December after taking cognisance of the formal charges. Joy failed to appear before the court despite public notices, prompting the appointment of a state defence lawyer on his behalf.
The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its probe report on 3 December 2025, paving the way for the current charge-framing stage.
The case forms part of a broader set of investigations into alleged human rights violations and abuses committed during the July uprising, which saw nationwide protests and a heavy security response. The tribunal is expected to continue hearings later this month as Bangladesh grapples with accountability for events linked to the unrest.
