The International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against former ministers Hasan Mahmud and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and 15 others in a case of killing six people in Chittagong during the anti-discrimination movement.
On July 16 last year, during the anti-discrimination student movement, leaders and activists of the Awami League, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League and Chhatra League attacked and fired on students and the public in the Sholashahar and Muradpur areas of Chittagong city.
In this incident, Chhatra Dal activist Wasim Akram, Shibir activist Faisal Ahmed Shanto and furniture businessman Md. Faruk were shot dead. Then on July 18, shop employee Simon, HSC examinee Tanvir Siddiqui of Ashekane Aulia Degree College and Chittagong University student Hridoy Chandra Tarua were killed in the firing by Chhatra League, Jubo League and Awami League leaders and activists in Bahaddarhat, Chittagong.
The International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against 15 people in the cases of those two incidents.
The accused include former minister Hasan Mahmud, two former mayors of Chittagong AJM Nasir and Rezaul Karim, then education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, and Nurul Azim Rony, a member of the central Awami League’s youth and sports sub-committee.
In addition, the tribunal has ordered the imprisonment of Ansar member Omar Faruk for shooting and killing people at Mohammadpur in the capital during the July movement.
Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam told reporters, “The leaders and activists of Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League are involved in the majority of the killings that took place during the July-August massacre in Chittagong metropolis.”
“The investigation agency’s staff conducted field investigations and identified them through video footage and newspapers. “Fifteen people have been charged with involvement in the attack.”
Among the accused are former minister Hasan Mahmud, two former mayors of Chittagong, AJM Nasir and Rezaul Karim, then education minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, and Chhatra League leader Nurul Azim Rony.
Tajul Islam said he applied for an arrest warrant against them on Tuesday. “After the hearing, the tribunal has ordered the issuance of arrest warrants against 15 people,” he said.
The lawyer said that an accused named Md. Firoz is in jail. He was involved in the attack during the coup. He was arrested in another case and is in jail. He was also requested to be shown arrested in this case.
Apart from these incidents, the tribunal has given two months to submit the investigation report in the case filed in the capital’s Mohammadpur massacre during the July mass uprising.
An Ansar member named Omar Faruk has been arrested in that case. The tribunal ordered him to be sent to jail on Tuesday.
