Shawdesh desk:

The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday ordered the jail authorities to produce 14 high-profile politicians, a retired Supreme Court judge, five former police officers, and a dismissed army officer in connection with allegations of crimes against humanity during the July-August student-led mass uprising.

The hearings are scheduled for November 18 and 20.

The three-judge tribunal, led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder and including Justice Md. Shofiul Alam Mahmood and Justice M Mohitul Hoque Anam Chawdhury, issued these orders following applications by ICT chief prosecutor Md Tajul Islam.

The order specifies that 14 individuals appear on November 18, while six more are due on November 20.

Additionally, former Dhaka Metropolitan police commissioner Habibur Rahman and 16 others have been named in a separate crimes-against-humanity complaint.

The Inspector General of Police has been directed to report on these cases by November 18.

The politicians summoned include former ministers Anisul Huq, Faruk Khan, Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Shahjahan Khan, Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, Dipu Moni, and advisers to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Salman F Rahman and Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury. Also named are Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haque Inu, and other high-ranking officials like former textile and jute minister Golam Dastagir Gazi, former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former Appellate Division judge AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury, and ex-home secretary Jahangir Alam.

The five police officers and one former army officer ordered to appear include former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, dismissed Lieutenant General Ziaul Ahsan, former Dhaka district additional superintendent Abdullahhil Kafi, former Jatrabari officers-in-charge Abul Hasan and Mazharul Islam, and Dhaka district north Detective Branch inspector Arafat Hossain.

The ICT’s orders mark a significant step in addressing allegations related to the massacre, with all summoned individuals now expected to answer charges of serious human rights violations during the July-August uprising.