Crimes against humanity, Final arguments in the case against Obaidul Quader and six others begin today

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) is scheduled to hear final arguments on Sunday in a crimes against humanity case filed over the July mass uprising against Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other senior leaders of the party and its affiliated bodies.

The hearing will take place before a panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2 headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. Prosecutors are expected to place their arguments first, after which the defence will respond.

The evidentiary phase of the case ended on 27 April with the cross-examination of investigation officer Ahmed Naser Uddin Mohammad, the 26th witness in the trial.

State-appointed defence counsels Lokman Howlader and Ishrat Jahan carried out the cross-examination on behalf of the seven accused. The investigation officer had begun giving testimony on 19 April. After witness testimonies concluded, the tribunal set 17 May for the start of final arguments.

Besides Obaidul Quader, the other accused are Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and General Secretary Wali Asif Inan.