Nahid Islam, chief of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has delivered testimony for a second consecutive day as the 47th prosecution witness in the case against fugitive former PM Sheikh Hasina and other accused, over crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the July uprising.

On Thursday (September 18), he appeared before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 judicial panel, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumder.

Nahid Islam began his testimony on Wednesday (September 17), during which he gave a partial statement. Prosecutor Mizanul Islam stated that Nahid Islam is the lead coordinator of the protest movement. He began his deposition by recounting the 2018 quota reform protests and the 2019 Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) elections. 

He then proceeded to describe subsequent events leading up to the 2024 quota reform movement, narrating incidents up to part of July 19.

Before Nahid Islam’s appearance, the 46th witness, Mahmudur Rahman, editor of the daily Amar Desh, completed both his testimony and cross-examination on Wednesday.

In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the other two accused in the case are former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun.

On July 10, the tribunal formally framed charges in the case. On the same day, the tribunal also accepted a plea from former IGP Mamun to testify as an “approver” (state witness). So far, 46 witnesses have testified in the case.

SMS/