The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) on Sunday began recording the deposition of a prosecution witness in the case against former law minister Anisul Huq and Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over allegations linked to mass killings during the July uprising.
July protest participant Imran Hossain from Mirpur testified as the first prosecution witness in the proceedings.
Chief Prosecutor of ICT-1 Muhammad Tajul Islam had earlier delivered the opening statement on 10 February.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, framed charges against the two accused on 12 January after taking cognisance of the formal charge filed by the prosecution on 4 December.
Court documents allege that Salman F Rahman and Anisul Huq engaged in a telephone conversation during the July unrest in which they reportedly expressed support for measures that allegedly facilitated violence against demonstrators.
The prosecution claims that shortly after the call, protesters came under widespread gunfire across the country, forming the basis of the charges of incitement to crimes against humanity.
Both men were arrested on 13 August 2024 from Dhaka’s Sadarghat area while reportedly attempting to leave the capital by river route. They have remained in custody since their arrest.
Proceedings are expected to continue with further witness testimonies in the coming hearings.
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