DHAKA, Dec 12, 2024 (BSS) - The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today allowed its probe body to interrogate former state minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak on December 18 over internet blackout enforced by then government throughout the country during the student-led July-August mass uprising.

Confirming the matter to newsmen, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said the prosecution filed the plea and the three-member tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder allowed the petition.

"Palak knew about the planning of the July-August genocides and took part in executing the crimes directly. He tried to hide, to cover up the brutalities unleashed by then government by enforcing the internet blackout. So the probe body needs to interrogate him to gather further information in this regard," the chief prosecutor said.

The tribunal on November 18 showed Palak and 12 others including nine former ministers arrested in a case over killings, genocide and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August student-led mass uprising.

The 12 other accused are- Anisul Huq, Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, Dr Dipu Moni, Rashed Khan Menon, Hasanul Haque Inu, Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Salman F Rahman, Shajahan Khan, Kamal Ahmed Mazumder, Golam Dastagir Gazi, AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former home secretary Md Jahangir Alam.

Allowing a time plea filed by the prosecution, the International Crimes Tribunal set December 17, 2024, for submitting probe report in the case.