International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor affirms no impunity for those responsible for recent atrocities, as trial proceedings begin over Chankharpul killings. 

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam has declared that those responsible for the killings during the July-August period will not escape justice. Speaking to reporters on Monday afternoon at the tribunal premises, he asserted that the judicial process will not be obstructed under any circumstances.

Addressing the press, the Chief Prosecutor stated that those who believed they could carry out massacres in Bangladesh and evade accountability, or attempt to sabotage the judicial process through counter-revolutionary means, are mistaken. “The clear message is that those who committed crimes will not be spared. The process of justice will continue uninterrupted,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Tajul Islam presented the opening statement in a case involving crimes against humanity over the killing of six people, including student Anas, during the July-August protests in Dhaka’s Chankharpul area.

Following his opening statement, Tajul Islam told reporters that the young individuals who sacrificed their lives had, in his words, liberated Bangladesh for a second time. He stressed that their surviving relatives and families will be key witnesses in bringing justice for the loss of more than 1,500 lives. He reaffirmed the state’s commitment to ensuring justice for these families through the tribunal process.

At the tribunal, the proceedings began with the Chief Prosecutor’s opening remarks, followed by the testimony of the first witness in the case, Polash, father of the martyred student Anas. Anas’s mother was also present as a witness. The testimonies marked the formal start of the trial concerning crimes against humanity committed during the Chankharpul killings.

The Chief Prosecutor reiterated that the July-August incidents represented severe crimes that must be addressed through due legal channels. He expressed confidence that the tribunal’s work would deliver justice and uphold the sacrifices of those who had fought for the country’s dignity and democratic values. The trial will continue in the coming days, with additional witnesses expected to testify in the case.