ICT receives call evidence against Quader

The prosecution submitted a call record to International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 against seven leaders, including Obaidul Quader in a crimes against humanity case committed during the July mass uprising.  

The evidence was presented on Thursday before a judicial panel led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of the ICT -2. Quader is the general secretary of Awami League (AL), a party whose activities are banned.  

The hearing revealed that on 11 July 2024, the then minister of Road Transport and Bridges, Quader, directly telephoned Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain and general secretary Wali Asif Inan to order attacks on protesting students, and the call record was presented accordingly.

In the recorded conversation, Quader was heard asking Saddam, “Why are you not hitting them?” In response, Saddam said, “The police have forbidden us from confronting them.”

Earlier, on 4 August, the prosecution initiated arguments in this case, with Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim asserting that the crimes against humanity occurring in July and August were not isolated incidents but rather a planned, well-organized, and large-scale “systematic crime” conducted nationwide.

Besides Quader, the other accused in the case include Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former state minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, and general secretary Wali Asif Inan, all of whom are fugitives.