Tribunal Hears Crimes Against Humanity Case Against Joy and Palak for Inciting Genocide by Shutting down Internet
A hearing on the formal framing of charges against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak is being held today in a crimes against humanity case over allegations of incitement to genocide by shutting down the internet during the July uprising.
The hearing is taking place on Wednesday, January 7, before a three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Chairman Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mozumder. The tribunal is first hearing arguments from the prosecution, after which statements from the accused will be heard.
In the morning, police brought Palak to the tribunal from prison in a prison van under tight security. He has been in custody for a long time since his arrest. Advocate Liton Ahmed is representing him in court.
Meanwhile, proceedings against the principal accused, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, are continuing in absentia as he remains absconding. On December 17, the tribunal appointed a state-funded “state defense” lawyer to represent Joy.
Earlier, on December 10, the tribunal ordered the publication of notices in two national newspapers directing Joy to surrender. He was scheduled to appear on December 17, but failed to do so. Subsequently, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam applied for the appointment of a state defense lawyer on his behalf, which the tribunal approved at government expense.
On December 4, the tribunal took cognizance of the charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak and issued an arrest warrant against Joy. On the same day, the prosecution formally submitted the charges.
According to the prosecution, Sajeeb Wazed Joy served as ICT adviser to the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During July–August 2024, the ICT Ministry allegedly shut down internet services in an attempt to conceal information about mass killings from the international community. Joy has been identified as the mastermind behind the plan, while Palak is accused of implementing it on the ground from within Bangladesh.
DBTech/IQ/EK/OR
