The ICT has indicted Joy and Palak for facilitating crimes through the shutdown of internet services

International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) on Sunday framed charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and former ICT affairs adviser, and former State Minister for the ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak for allegedly facilitating crimes against humanity through a nationwide internet shutdown.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, brought three counts of crimes against humanity against the two accused and set February 18 for the prosecution’s opening statement and the start of witness testimonies.

The tribunal had earlier fixed Sunday for delivering its order after hearing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence on January 15.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution, while advocate Liton Ahmed appeared for Palak. Fugitive accused Joy was represented by advocate Manjur Alam.

On December 4, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking cognisance of the charges filed against him and Palak.

According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly ordered a countrywide internet shutdown during the July Uprising, which the prosecution claims facilitated the commission of crimes against humanity.

The prosecution alleged that Palak, while serving as state minister, posted a message on his verified Facebook account with Joy’s approval, which incited police and Chhatra League activists to carry out widespread attacks on protesting students and members of the public.

Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal that, acting on Joy’s directives, Palak initially slowed mobile internet services before enforcing a complete shutdown to create conditions conducive to the detention, torture and killing of protesters.

He further alleged that Palak issued misleading statements about the disruption and later blocked social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok, to prevent information about the alleged atrocities from reaching the outside world.

“The decision to shut down the internet originated with Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who took it after consulting his mother, Sheikh Hasina, and Palak carried out the order,” the prosecution said.

The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its probe report against the accused on December 3, 2025.