The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) on Tuesday ordered the publication of a public notice in two national dailies, demanding that Awami League joint general secretary and former lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif, along with three other party leaders, surrender by October 23.
The accused individuals are charged with superior command responsibility in the killing of six protesters and other crimes against humanity during the July uprising in Kushtia.
The three-member tribunal, chaired by Justice Nozrul Islam Chowdhury, also set October 23 as the date for the next hearing of the case against Hanif and his associates.
Along with Hanif, the other accused individuals are Kushtia district Awami League president Md Sadar Uddin Khan, general secretary Md Ali Asgar Ali and Kushtia town Awami League general secretary Ataur Rahman Ata.
The same tribunal also deferred until October 23 the hearing on whether charges of crimes against humanity will be framed against detained Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasod) president Hasanul Haq Inu for his alleged role in commanding the crackdown on July protesters in Kushtia and other areas.
The tribunal鈥檚 order came after the Inspector General of Police informed the court that Hanif could not be arrested because he was not found at his listed address.
Additionally, the tribunal granted permission for Inu鈥檚 lawyers to meet with him at Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj for two hours a day over three days to discuss the case.
Inu鈥檚 lawyer, Nazneen Nahar, requested an eight-week adjournment, citing the need for more time to prepare a defense against the 1,700-page charge document.
Inu, a key ally of the Awami League-led 14-party alliance, is the first detained politician to face crimes against humanity charges related to the July atrocities, which led to the ousting of Sheikh Hasina and her subsequent flight to India on August 5, 2024.
The case against Hanif follows the charges against Inu.
