Dhaka, Sep 15 (V7N) – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-1) is nearing the conclusion of witness testimonies in the high-profile crimes against humanity case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and three others.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters on Monday that the prosecution believes it has presented sufficient evidence to prove the alleged crimes. “After the testimony of one or two more witnesses, we will apply to the tribunal to conclude the testimony phase,” he said.

On Monday, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the Daily Amar Desh, gave his testimony as the 46th witness in the case. Tomorrow, Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP), is scheduled to testify.

According to the Chief Prosecutor, witnesses have addressed multiple issues, including the rise of the fascist government, destruction of the democratic system to maintain power, the BDR killings, creation of mobs through the Democracy Forum, the change in Quader Mollah’s verdict, the Hefazat rally massacre at Shapla Square, destruction of the judicial system, and the Skype scandal involving former ICT chairman Nizamul Haque Nasim.

The tribunal, a three-member panel headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Majumder, is hearing the case with Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam, Prosecutor Mizanul Islam, and Gazi SH Tamim representing the prosecution. Lawyers Amir Hossain and Zayed Bin Amjad are representing Sheikh Hasina, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, respectively. Notably, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, initially an accused, pleaded guilty and became a witness, testifying as the 36th witness.

The case was framed on July 10 and concerns alleged acts of genocide and crimes against humanity by the Awami League government, its party cadres, government-loyal administration, and a section of law enforcement during the mass student and public movements in July-August last year.

Apart from this case, Sheikh Hasina faces two other ongoing trials in the tribunal—one related to disappearances and killings during her 15-and-a-half-year administration and another connected to the Hefazat-e-Islam rally violence in Motijheel’s Shapla Square.

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