The International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) has ordered the appointment of state defence counsel to represent 17 fugitive defendants, including former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. This directive pertains to a case involving alleged crimes against humanity committed in Chattogram during the July mass uprising of 2024.
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Judicial Order and Tribunal Composition
On Wednesday, a three-member bench of the ICT-2, led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, issued the order. The other presiding members of the tribunal are Judge Md. Monjurul Basid and Judge Nur Mohammed Shahriar Kabir. The decision follows the defendants’ failure to surrender despite legal notices.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Mohammad Zahirul Amin informed the court that out of the 22 individuals accused in this specific case, only five are currently in custody. This group includes former Member of Parliament A.B.M. Fazle Karim Chowdhury. The remaining 17 accused parties remain at large. The prosecution confirmed that mandatory public notices had been published in newspapers directing the fugitives to appear before the court; however, they have failed to comply with the judicial summons. Consequently, the appointment of state-funded legal representation is a procedural necessity to ensure the trial moves forward in accordance with the law.
Summary of Accusations and Legal Status
| Category | Details |
| Total Accused | 22 Individuals |
| Defendants in Custody | 5 (including A.B.M. Fazle Karim Chowdhury) |
| Fugitive Defendants | 17 (including Hasan Mahmud and Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury) |
| Primary Charges | Murder (6 counts), infliction of grievous bodily harm |
| Date for Formal Charges | 4 June 2026 |
Specific Allegations and Casualties
The prosecution has categorised the crimes into three primary charges involving six fatalities and over one hundred injuries occurring within the Chattogram metropolitan area:
Incident of 16 July 2024: The alleged killing of three individuals, identified as Md. Wasim Akram, Faisal Ahmed Shanto, and Md. Faruk.
Incident of 18 July 2024: The alleged killing of three additional victims, identified as Tanvir Siddiqui, Md. Saimon, and Hridoy Chandra.
Grievous Assaults: The third charge involves the infliction of serious physical injuries on more than one hundred individuals during the aforementioned period.
Procedural Outlook
Under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, the appointment of state defence counsel is a prerequisite for conducting trials in absentia. This ensures that the legal rights of the accused are protected even if they choose not to appear. The tribunal has scheduled 4 June 2026 as the date for the hearing on the formal framing of charges. This phase will determine whether the evidence presented by the prosecution is sufficient to proceed to a full trial.
The tribunal’s current mandate focuses on seeking accountability for the violence surrounding the political transition in mid-2024. With the legal representatives now assigned, the court intends to maintain the trial’s momentum despite the absence of the primary political figures involved.