Prosecution Seeks Charges Against Joy, Palak Over July Uprising Crimes Thru' Internet Shut Down

The prosecution has filed an application seeking the formal framing of charges against Sajeeb Wazed Joy—son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her adviser—and former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, in a case involving crimes against humanity committed during the July uprising.

Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam submitted the application on Sunday (January 11) before the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder. The other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shafiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.

Among the accused, Joy remains absconding, while Palak is currently in custody. Palak was produced before the tribunal from prison at the time of the charge-framing hearing.

Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s arguments on Sunday afternoon, three specific charges were brought against the two accused. The tribunal has scheduled Thursday for the defense hearing.

During the proceedings, the prosecution informed the court that during the movement, then State Minister Palak had falsely claimed that internet services were disrupted due to fire damage. However, investigations revealed that internet services across the country were deliberately shut down on the instructions of Joy. In support of this claim, the prosecution presented a phone conversation and a video of Palak before the tribunal.

In the formal application for framing charges, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam stated that during the July mass uprising, orders to shut down the internet originated from Joy and were executed by Palak. He alleged that Sajeeb Wazed Joy was the mastermind behind cutting off internet services to conceal information about killings, while former ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak implemented Joy’s overall directives.

As Joy is absconding, advocate Md Munzur Alam was appointed by the state in December as his defense counsel. He appeared before the tribunal for the first time on Sunday and sought time to submit an application for Joy’s discharge from the case.

Meanwhile, the tribunal also recorded defense testimony in a separate case involving the killing of seven people, including the burning of six bodies in Ashulia. Of the 16 accused in that case, eight are under arrest. Although each detained accused was permitted to testify along with one witness, a total of five testimonies were recorded, including those of three accused.

DBTech/MUM/EK/OR