Indictment Order on Joy, Palak due Jan 21

BSS

Publish : 15 Jan 2026, 05:52 PM

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The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1today (on Thursday) set January 21 for passing its order whether to frame charges in a crimes against humanity case against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son and former ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy and state minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, set the date as both prosecution and defence concluded their hearing on the matter today.

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Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam took part in the hearing from the prosecution and advocate Liton Ahmed argued for the accused Zunaid Ahmed Palak, while advocate Manjur Alam defended the fugitive Joy.

On December 4, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking into cognisance the formal charge brought against Joy and Palak.

According to the formal charge, Joy and Palak are accused of shutting down nationwide internet services during the July Uprising, allegedly facilitating the commission of crimes against humanity.

"Palak, being the state minister for the ICT Division at the time, gave a status and made a post on his verified Facebook account after getting approval from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, thereby instigating unprecedented attacks on agitating students and people by police and Chhatra League cadres," the prosecution said.

Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam said Palak, following the order and approval from Joy, first reduced the speed of mobile internet services and subsequently shut them down to create an opportunity to detain, torture and kill the protesters.

"He then gave a false statement regarding the internet shutdown and later blocked several social networking sites, including WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok, to keep the world in the dark about the horrific crimes taking place at the time.

The conspiracy to block the internet originated from Sajeeb Wazed Joy. He made the decision after taking advice from his mother, Sheikh Hasina, and Palak executed the decision," the prosecution added.

The tribunal's investigation agency submitted the probe report against the accused on December 3, 2025.

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