The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Sunday (26 July) took into cognisance formal charges against 11 people, including ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, over the killing of Teknaf municipal councillor Ekramul Haque during an alleged anti-drug operation in Cox's Bazar in 2018.

The tribunal, led Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, also issued arrest warrants for eight absconding accused, including Hasina, and ordered the three accused in custody to be produced before it on 25 August.

Prosecutor Zahirul Amin represented the prosecution and sought acceptance of the formal charges.

After the hearing, the tribunal accepted the charges, ordered the arrested accused to be produced, issued arrest warrants for those absconding, and fixed 25 August for the next hearing.

The other 10 accused are former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal; former road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader; former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed; Brig Gen Md Mahbub Alam; Brig Gen Miftah Uddin, who is serving in the Bangladesh Army; Col Anwar Latif Khan, who is on pre-retirement leave; Maj Ruhul Amin; army officers Nazmus Sakib and Ashikur Rahman; and former Awami League MP Abdur Rahman Bodi.

Among them, Bodi, Anwar and Mahbub are currently in custody in connection with other cases.

Earlier in the day, the prosecution submitted the formal charges to the tribunal.

Prosecutor Tarek Abdullah said the ICT investigation agency conducted a long probe into the case, which involves allegations of crimes against humanity linked to Ekramul's death, and submitted the report to the ICT Chief Prosecutor's Office.

After reviewing and verifying the report, the prosecution filed the charges at the tribunal.

Ekramul, 46, died on the night of 26 May 2018 in an alleged gunfight with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Noakhaliapara under Teknaf Sadar union along the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive.

The incident drew nationwide attention after an audio clip went viral in which his daughter was heard saying, "Abbu, tumi kanna kortecho je..." ("Dad, why are you crying?").

SM/CitizenTimes