UNB, Dhaka

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has ordered its investigation agency to submit reports within one month in two cases filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others over the killings and crimes against humanity committed during the July-August mass uprising.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder, passed the order, said tribunal’s chief prosecutor Advocate Md Tajul Islam.

Besides, the court ordered the investigation agency to update it about the absconding accused and set December 17 for holding a hearing over the matter, he said.

Earlier in the morning, 13 accused, including nine former ministers of the ousted Awami League government, were produced before tribunal in cases over the killings during the student-led mass movement.

ICT chief prosecutor Md Tajul Islam said they were produced before the tribunal after showing them arrested in cases over crimes against humanity.

All the accused are now behind the bars in other cases, he added.

Those who were produced before the tribunal were former law minister Anisul Huq, civil aviation and tourism minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan, Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haq Inu, former state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former prime minister’s power, energy and mineral resources adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury.

Ex-minister Dr Dipu Moni, Hasina’s adviser and businessman Salman F Rahman, former minister Kamal Ahmed Majumder, former minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, former home secretary Jahangir Alam and former minister Dipu Moni were among them.

Though former agriculture minister Dr Abdur Razzak was supposed to be produced with the above ones, he could not be produced due to his illness.

Earlier, on October 27, the ICT ordered the 14 accused to be produced on November 18.

Besides, the court ordered former IGP Abdullah Al Mamun, former army official Ziaul Ahsan, former police officials Abdullah Al Kafi, Arafat Hossain, Abul Hasan and Mazharul Islam be produced on November 20.

Various complaints, including that of killings, torture, abduction and harassment, were lodged with the ICT after the Sheikh Hasina-led regime was toppled on August 5.

Chief Prosecutor Md Tajul Islam wrote to IGP Md Moinul Islam to take initiatives to issue red notice through Interpol to bring back former PM Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives.

Over 1,000 people were killed and many injured during the July and August uprising which began as protests over government jobs and later escalated into an anti-government movement, leading to widespread violence and the end of Hasina’s 15-year rule.