News Flash
DHAKA, May 13, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Muhammad Tajul Islam today said mass murder had taken place, not genocide, during the July uprising, calling for not spreading confusions over this.
"The term genocide is used for mainly ethnic cleansing. In July, mass murder had taken place in Bangladesh, not genocide," Tajul said in a post made on his Facebook account.
His clarification came a day after the investigation agency of the ICT filed probe report in a crime against humanity and mass murder case lodged against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and two others over heinous crimes committed during the July-August mass uprising.
The probe body brought five charges against "mastermind of the crimes and superior commander" Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.
The chief prosecutor at a press briefing said the investigation agency accused the ousted prime minister of inciting the crimes against humanity through her July 14 press briefing, where she described the anti-discrimination agitators as the grandchildren of the Rajakars.
"She unleashed the various law enforcement and intelligence agencies against them (the protesting students). Apart from the state agencies, armed members of Awami League and its associate bodies like Jubo League and Chhatra League swooped on the protesters with all their might. They slaughtered the agitating students, injured them and committed crimes against humanity," Muhammad Tajul Islam also said on May 12.
The ICT chief prosecutor said the probe body in the second charge accused Sheikh Hasina of giving direct order in committing crimes against humanity.
The three other charges were related to particular incidents, where crimes were committed following directions of Sheikh Hasina, the chief prosecutor confirmed.
