In a crimes against humanity case, counsel representing JSD President Hasanul Haq Inu presented two video clips as evidence yesterday. The videos, shown by a defense witness, Shoriful Kobir Shopon, the public relations affairs secretary of the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, were submitted to International Crimes Tribunal-2. In the first clip, Inu expressed regret over the deaths during the July uprising and emphasized the government’s responsibility. The second clip captured Inu advocating for reform rather than complete removal of the quota system, supporting the students’ demands for change.
However, the prosecution alleged that Inu had conflicting stances during the uprising. Prosecutor Minazul Islam, during cross-examination, claimed that Inu, despite appearing supportive in the media, actually opposed the students and endorsed using force to quell the protests. The prosecution suggested that Inu’s contradictory behavior was evident in phone conversations with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The tribunal postponed further proceedings in the case to the following day.
In a separate development, charges were pressed against 11 former police officers in connection with the killing of 12th grader Imam Hasan Bhuiyan Tayim in Dhaka’s Jatrabari on July 20 amid the uprising. The tribunal decided to proceed with the case, citing substantial evidence. The accused include high-ranking officials like former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Habibur Rahman and others such as Sudip Kumar Chakraborty, Iqbal Hossain, Md Masudur Rahman Monir, SM Shamim, Nahid Ferdous, Abul Hossain, Md Zakir Hossain, Md Wahidul Haque Mamun, Sajjad Uz Zaman, and Md Shahadat Ali. Two of the accused, Abul Hossain and Zakir Hossain, who are currently detained, pleaded not guilty in court.
The tribunal scheduled March 29 for the commencement of opening statements and witness testimonies. The incident involving Tayim, the son of a police officer, was captured in a widely circulated video where he was shot at close range while a companion attempted to shield him.