ICT prosecutors seek indictment of Joy, Palak

Prosecutors at the International Crimes Tribunal have applied for the framing of charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, accusing them of involvement in crimes against humanity by shutting down internet services during the July 2024 Mass Uprising, reports bdnews24.com.
The application was filed on Sunday before a three-member bench of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder.
The prosecution alleges that internet services were deliberately slowed and later shut down during the July-August 2024 Uprising in an attempt to suppress communication among protesters and prevent information about violence from reaching the public and the international community.
Joy, who served as ICT advisor to his mother Hasina, is described by prosecutors as the "mastermind" of the alleged plan. Palak is accused of implementing the decision inside Bangladesh.
After hearing the prosecution's arguments, the tribunal scheduled Thursday for a hearing on defence applications seeking discharge from the case.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam and Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim represented the state. Lawyer Liton Ahmed appeared for Palak while Joy was represented by state-appointed counsel Monjur Alam.
Speaking after the hearing, Prosecutor Tamim said the shutdown was "planned and targeted", claiming it was intended to prevent protesters from communicating and to conceal alleged abuses.
He said prosecutors had submitted recorded phone conversations to the tribunal, which they say were made by a government agency at the time and later obtained during the investigation.
According to the prosecution, the recordings refer to a decision to block eight social media applications after consultations involving senior officials.
The tribunal had earlier taken formal notice of the case on Dec 4 last year and ordered notices to be published directing Joy to surrender.