Maksud Kamal, Zafar Iqbal face crimes against humanity over July uprising

Online Desk : The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has submitted an investigation report against eight individuals, including former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal and former Shahjalal University of Science and Technology teacher Prof Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July 2024 mass uprising.

Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim confirmed the development on Thursday, saying the investigation report had been submitted to the Office of the Chief Prosecutor after the completion of a lengthy inquiry.

He said the report is currently under review and will later be submitted to the tribunal in the form of formal charges.

Earlier, Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam said formal charges would be filed after the investigation report is scrutinised.

Others named in the report include former Justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, Dhaka University Sociology Department teacher Prof AKM Jamal Uddin and former General Secretary of the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, Wali Asif Enan, along with three others.

During proceedings in a separate case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the July uprising, the prosecution previously presented before the tribunal an audio recording it alleged was a phone conversation between Hasina and former DU Vice-Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal.

According to the prosecution, the recording included remarks in which Hasina allegedly expressed a desire to have protesting students hanged. The authenticity of the recording would ultimately be a matter for the tribunal to assess during judicial proceedings.