Eight charges, including abetment, conspiracy, aiding ruling party leaders and law enforcers and other crimes, have been brought against Inu.
The International Crimes Tribunal-2 yesterday began the trial of former minister and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president Hasanul Haq Inu in a case accusing him of committing crimes against humanity during the July uprising.
Inu, the lone accused, was present in the dock as prosecutors read out their opening statement, alleging that he fuelled state violence by repeatedly branding student protesters as BNP, Jamaat, terrorists and communal, and by endorsing curfews, army deployment and shoot-on-sight orders, including shooting from helicopters to kill protesters.
Eight charges, including abetment, conspiracy, aiding ruling party leaders and law enforcers and other crimes, have been brought against Inu.
The tribunal fixed the recording of depositions of the first prosecution witness for today.
Prosecutors said Inu, then a key partner in the 14-party alliance, coordinated with then prime minister Sheikh Hasina in imposing curfews and deploying military force against unarmed demonstrators.
They alleged he instructed Kushtia police to prepare lists of protesters, approved earlier acts of repression and supported helicopter assaults and armed crackdowns. His public remarks and alliance meetings, they claimed, legitimised violence across the country.
The prosecution said eyewitness testimony, digital communications and forensic evidence form a robust chain proving his complicity beyond doubt.
Earlier, the tribunal dismissed a defence petition seeking review of the charge framing against Inu, ruling that the charge frame was upheld and that objections must be settled during trial, not at the preliminary stage.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters the tribunal rejected the defence's attempt to question the qualitative value of evidence, adding that the review petition contained three serious and unacceptable remarks challenging the government's authority to enact laws and describing the July uprising as so-called.
He termed these comments contemptuous and seditious and sought a contempt notice against Inu.
The tribunal did not issue any order regarding the contempt and sedition claimed by the prosecution in court. However, while briefing journalists after the proceedings, Tajul said the tribunal's observations on the issue would be reflected in the order.
Sifat Mahmud, a member of Inu's defence team, said they had sought discharge, arguing that the charges were baseless, politically motivated and unsupported by credible evidence.
He claimed Inu had no authority over law enforcement, that the investigation was biased and that the audio evidence contained inconsistencies. He said Inu had publicly urged restraint and dialogue.
Meanwhile, ICT 1 yesterday ordered BNP chairperson's adviser and Supreme Court lawyer Fazlur Rahman to appear before it on December 8 to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.
The order came after prosecutors accused him of making adverse remarks on a television talk show on November 26, questioning the tribunal's legitimacy and suggesting its proceedings were being run through an internal arrangement.
The tribunal directed Fazlur to bring his academic and bar certificates to the next hearing.
ICT-1 also ordered authorities to produce Shahriar Kabir, former president of Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, before the court on January 12 in connection with the 2013 Hefazat e Islam rally at Motijheel's Shapla Chattar. He is currently in jail in another case.
