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DHAKA: The International Crimes Tribunal has extended the deadline for submitting an investigation report in a case against three journalists accused of inciting crimes against humanity during the July 2024 mass uprising.
The tribunal has directed investigators to submit the report by 5 January 2027.
A three-member panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, passed the order on Sunday afternoon. The other members were Judges Md Manjurul Bachid and Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The three accused are Shyamal Dutta, former general secretary of the National Press Club and editor of the daily Bhorer Kagoj; Mozammel Babu, former editor-in-chief of Ekattor Television; and Farzana Rupa, the television channel’s former chief reporter.
Prosecutor Faruk Ahmed sought a further two months to submit the investigation report. In his application, he said all three accused were in custody and had been produced before the tribunal on Sunday. More time was needed to prepare and submit the report, he added.
The tribunal accepted the prosecution’s plea and set 5 January 2027 as the new deadline.
On 24 August, Tribunal-2 had ordered that the three journalists be shown arrested in the case and sent to jail. It had set 25 October as the deadline for submitting the investigation report.
According to the prosecution, a press conference by then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was held at Ganabhaban on 14 July 2024. Several journalists allegedly made provocative remarks while questioning her during the event.
The prosecution alleges that, following the incident, Hasina referred to the protesters as “children of Razakars” and “grandchildren of Razakars”. The case claims that crimes against humanity were subsequently committed during the July-August 2024 uprising as part of a chain of incitement and provocation.
The allegations are part of the case and have not been established by a court.