Staff Reporter

A hearing on the framing of formal charges against 11 accused, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a crimes against humanity case over the killing of Teknaf municipal councillor Ekramul Haque in an alleged gunfight in Cox’s Bazar is scheduled to be held today.

The hearing is expected to take place at International Crimes Tribunal-2 on Tuesday, October 27.

According to prosecution sources, the hearing will be held before a three-member judicial panel headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury.

The prosecution said the hearing on the framing of formal charges had initially been scheduled for September 27. However, following a petition from the prosecution, the tribunal rescheduled it for today as the full bench was not available at the time.

Four Accused Arrested, Seven on the Run

Four of the 11 accused are currently in custody. They are former Cox’s Bazar-4 lawmaker Abdur Rahman Bodi, Brigadier General Miftah Uddin Ahmed, Brigadier General Mahbub Alam and former Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Director General Colonel Anwar Latif Khan.

The remaining seven accused, including Sheikh Hasina, are absconding. They include former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Awami League General Secretary and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed, retired Major Ruhul Amin, Lieutenant Commander Ashek ur Rahman and former Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) official Squadron Leader Nazmus Sakib Mahmud.

Seven Absconding Accused Fail to Appear Despite Surrender Order

According to case records, the tribunal ordered the absconding accused to surrender on August 25 and directed that notices be published in two national dailies.

On September 7, the court ordered the appointment of state-appointed defence lawyers for the seven absconding accused.

On the scheduled hearing date, the four arrested accused appeared before the tribunal, but the seven absconding accused did not surrender.

Earlier, on July 26, the tribunal took cognisance of the formal charges submitted by the prosecution against all 11 accused.

Allegations in the Case

According to the prosecution, Ekramul Haque was picked up from a road in front of Hotel Netong in Kirontoli, Teknaf, at around 10:30 pm on May 26, 2018. Later, between 11 pm and midnight, he was killed in an alleged RAB gunfight on the seashore along Marine Drive in Noakhaliapara under Teknaf Sadar Union.

Ekramul Haque was a councillor of Ward No. 3 of Teknaf Municipality and president of the upazila unit of Jubo League.

The accused face allegations of unlawful detention, abduction, staging a gunfight to carry out the killing, and involvement in, incitement of and assistance in the alleged crimes, as well as ordering the murder.

The hearing on the framing of formal charges is expected to determine the next steps in the judicial proceedings.