The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered the formal framing of charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak in a case involving crimes against humanity. The tribunal has fixed 18 February for opening statements and the recording of witness testimonies.
After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the three-member judicial panel of ICT-1, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order on Wednesday (21 January). The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Justice Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
Appearing for the prosecution at the hearing were Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, along with prosecutors Gazi MH Tamim, Abdus Sattar Palowan, and Md Mamunur Rashid. Barrister Md Liton Ahmed represented accused Zunaid Ahmed Palak, while Md Munzur Alam, a lawyer appointed at state expense, appeared on behalf of fugitive accused Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
In this case, accused Sajeeb Wazed Joy remains absconding. The other accused, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, has been arrested and is currently in jail. He was produced before the tribunal from prison on Wednesday.
In an application seeking formal charge framing, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said that during the July mass uprising, instructions to shut down the internet came from Joy, and those directives were implemented by Palak. Lawyers for the defence opposed the allegations.
They claimed that Joy and Palak had no involvement in the allegations and, on that basis, sought dismissal of the charges and acquittal of their clients.
As Joy has been absconding, Md Munjur Alam was appointed as a state-appointed defence lawyer on his behalf in December. He appeared before the tribunal for the first time today and sought time to file an application for Joy’s acquittal in the case.
On December 4, the tribunal took cognisance of the charges against Joy and Palak. On the same day, an arrest warrant was issued against Joy, while Palak was shown arrested in connection with charges of crimes against humanity committed during the July mass uprising.
The cases against Joy and Palak are being tried jointly at the tribunal, and a total of three charges have been brought against them. Subsequently, on December 10, a notice was published directing Sajeeb Wazed Joy to appear before the tribunal. As he failed to appear, he was declared a fugitive on December 17, and a state-funded defence lawyer was appointed on his behalf.