The official trial proceedings for the mass killings during the anti-discrimination student movement in July and August will commence today.
Tajul Islam announced that the judges will be formally welcomed at the tribunal on Wednesday, October 16. Following this, the three-member bench, headed by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Majumdar, will begin proceedings on Thursday, October 17.
The prosecution is expected to submit several important motions on the first day.
According to reports, the tribunal will convene at 10:30 AM today. The same tribunal that oversaw trials for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War will now handle cases related to the suppression and killings carried out during the 2024 anti-discrimination uprising. Among the key accused are former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and her associates.
Though renovation work on the main building is nearing completion, the tribunal will initially operate from a temporary tin-roofed courtroom. So far, 56 charges have been submitted to the tribunal by the prosecution and investigation agencies, with the process of charge framing underway. The tribunal will also allow the accused to hire foreign lawyers for their defense.
The new prosecution team is hopeful for a swift and impartial trial. However, questions remain about key issues such as witness protection, victim compensation laws, and the tribunal’s authority to sentence political parties—concerns that will be addressed once the relevant ordinance is issued.
The interim government decided to conduct the trials under the International Crimes Tribunal following the mass killings triggered by the student movement. As part of this initiative, a new prosecution team and investigation agency have been formed.
