The prosecution accused them of incitement, conspiracy, attempt and provocation over attacks on students during the July Uprising.

Staff Reporter:

The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has filed a formal charge against eight people, including former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Maksud Kamal, writer and academic Zafar Iqbal, and former Appellate Division judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, over attacks on DU students during the 2024 July Uprising.

The prosecution submitted the formal charge to the tribunal’s registrar on Wednesday (16 September).

The charges relate to allegations of attacks, torture and attempts to suppress the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on the Dhaka University campus during the July Uprising in 2024.

The prosecution has alleged that the accused played roles in attacks and repression against students during the movement. It claimed that their direct or indirect involvement in the incidents emerged during the investigation.

The formal charge was filed based on information and documents collected during the investigation, the prosecution said.

After filing the charge, Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim told journalists that the accused had been charged with incitement, conspiracy, attempt and provocation in connection with attacks on protesting students at Dhaka University.

“Maksud Kamal made provocative statements and was involved in a conspiracy. As a result, Chhatra League, Jubo League and police carried out attacks on the protesters,” the prosecutor said.

“We have filed a formal charge in this regard,” he added.

The tribunal will now hear the formal charge before deciding on the subsequent legal proceedings.