ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam addressed a views exchange meeting with reporters today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, April 10, 2025 (BSS) - The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is all set to submit probe reports in four crimes against humanity cases filed over the monstrous crimes committed during the July-August mass uprising.

"Probe reports of cases filed over torching of bodies in Ashulia, Chankharpul massacre, shooting a youth dangling from an under-construction building in Rampura and one against the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, are almost ready and will be filed before the tribunal within quickest possible time," said ICT Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.

The chief prosecutor said these while addressing a views exchange with the reporters covering the regular activities of the tribunal this morning. Tajul said the formal trial will start after the tribunal takes the formal charges into cognizance.

"The ICT so far received 339 allegations and as per the complaint registrar, the probe body is investigating 39 cases. A total of 22 miscellaneous cases have been filed so far against 141 people. Of those 22 cases, probe reports of four cases are almost ready," he said.

Muhammad Tajul Islam added that out of the total 141 accused, 54 have been arrested so far and 87 are still at large. "Of these 141 accused, 70 are civilians, 62 from police and nine are from different military forces," Tajul said.

While replying a question on whether the probe body or the prosecution taking much time in preparing the probe report, the ICT Chief Prosecutor said, "We want to bring the masterminds behind the atrocities, people who are directly involved with the crimes, to the justice. We don't want to follow the 'standard of proving' of the past tribunal. We have brought the shinning truth, so it will not be logical to set timeframe for the investigation."

The ICT chief prosecutor further said they have so far recorded statements of more than 1,000 people and collected digital evidences, including more than 1000 video clippings.

"Now we are reviewing the digital evidences, verifying those and reviewing the geo-location. We have visited 15 districts, including Narsingdi, Habiganj, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Natore, Chapainawabganj, Bogura, and Rangpur for investigation purpose and visited many districts on couple of occasions," said prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim.

The prosecutor also said the tribunal team has visited three places related to enforced disappearances in Dhaka and three in Chapainawabganj and Bogura, and collected evidences.

"Not only the customary prosecution job, we have taken part in four public hearings in North South University, Northern University, Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) and Tamirul Millat Kamil Madrasah in Jatrabari, to raise public involvement in the investigation work," he added.

At the onset of the views exchange, prosecutors Saimum Reza Talukder and Gazi MH Tamim presented two digital presentations on tribunal overview and functions, and update of case investigation.
Prosecutors Abdus Subhan Tarafder, Mizanul Islam and Abdullah Al Noman were also present on the occasion, among others.