Dhaka, Nov 20 (V7N) – The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has scheduled December 19 as the deadline for submitting an investigation report on allegations of killings, genocide, and crimes against humanity involving eight former security officials, including ex-NTMC Director General Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan.

During today's hearing, the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, granted a two-month extension for the prosecution to finalize its report. The tribunal also ordered the continued detention of the accused.

The other accused include former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, ex-additional superintendent of police Abdullahel Kafi, former deputy commissioner of Mirpur Zone Md Jasim Uddin Mollah, ex-additional superintendent of police Md Shahidur Islam, and former officers-in-charge Abul Hasan, Mazharul Islam, and detective branch inspector Arafat Hossain.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam argued for more time to compile evidence, describing the scale of the alleged crimes as "almost unimaginable." He claimed over 2,000 people were killed and 25,000 injured during the July-August mass uprising.

The chief prosecutor accused Ziaul Ahsan of orchestrating enforced disappearances, torture, and killings, likening him to Serbian war criminals Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic. He alleged that Ahsan, during his tenure as NTMC DG, imported banned surveillance technology and orchestrated information blackouts during the student-led uprising.

Other accusations included mass killings in Savar under Abdullahel Kafi’s command and the brutal treatment of protesters, such as Asadul Yamin, who was thrown from an Armored Personnel Carrier and left to die.

During the hearing, Ziaul Ahsan requested to address the court, stating, "The job I used to do was a technical one. I never worked in any torture camps." The tribunal advised him to channel his statements through his lawyer.

The ICT bench also included Justice Md Shofiqul Alam Mahmood and Judge M Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury. The hearing was attended by prosecutors Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud, and Abdullah Al Noman.

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