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The prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal has moved to make three journalists—Shyamal Dutta, Mozammel Haque Babu and Farzana Rupa—accused in a case over alleged incitement against the July mass uprising through anti-movement statements and campaigns in various media outlets.
The tribunal has directed the prison authorities to produce the three journalists before International Crimes Tribunal-2 on August 24.
The order was issued on Monday following an application by the prosecution. Prosecutors said they would seek to show them arrested in the case when they are produced before the tribunal.
According to the prosecution, the three journalists allegedly incited the offences described in the case during a press conference held at Ganabhaban on July 14, 2024, in the presence of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The press conference was held ahead of Hasina’s visit to China.
During the briefing, Hasina spoke about the quota reform movement and used the term “Razakar,” which students described as derogatory. Protests erupted in different parts of the country that night following her remarks.
The prosecution further alleges that from July 14 to August 5, Dutta, Babu and Rupa played roles in creating and promoting a “counter-narrative” against the student movement.
At the time, Mozammel Haque Babu was managing director and editor-in-chief of Ekattor Television, while Farzana Rupa served as the channel’s chief reporter. Shyamal Dutta was a former general secretary of the National Press Club.
The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal is separately investigating allegations that journalists, writers and people from other professions made anti-movement and inflammatory statements during the July mass uprising.
Meanwhile, Mozammel Haque Babu and Farzana Rupa are also facing trial in a crimes-against-humanity case over alleged repression of Hefazat-e-Islam activists at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel, Dhaka, and in Narayanganj in 2013.
