Indictment Order on Joy, Palak Scheduled for Jan 21
The Chronify
The International Crimes Tribunal-1 has fixed January 21 to pass its order on charges will be framed against Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Zunaid Ahmed Palak in a crimes against humanity case linked to the July Uprising.
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-1 on Thursday set January 21 for delivering its order on charge framing in a crimes against humanity case against Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and former state minister for the ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, fixed the date after both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments on Thursday.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution, while advocate Liton Ahmed appeared on behalf of Palak. Advocate Manjur Alam defended Joy, who remains a fugitive.
Earlier, on December 4, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking cognisance of the formal charges submitted against both accused.
According to the prosecution, Joy and Palak were involved in shutting down nationwide internet services during the July Uprising, an act that allegedly facilitated crimes against humanity. Prosecutors claimed that Palak, while serving as state minister, made public statements and social media posts after receiving approval from Joy, which they said instigated violent attacks on protesting students and civilians by police and Chhatra League activists.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal that Palak, acting on Joy’s instructions, initially throttled mobile internet speed before completely shutting down services. This, he alleged, created conditions for mass arrests, torture and killings. He further claimed that Palak later blocked social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok to prevent information about the violence from reaching the international community.
“The conspiracy to shut down the internet originated from Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who took the decision after consulting his mother, Sheikh Hasina, and Palak executed it,” the prosecution argued.
The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its probe report against the accused on December 3, 2025. The upcoming order on January 21 will determine whether the case proceeds to the trial stage.
The three-member tribunal, headed by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, fixed the date after both the prosecution and defence concluded their arguments on Thursday.
Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam represented the prosecution, while advocate Liton Ahmed appeared on behalf of Palak. Advocate Manjur Alam defended Joy, who remains a fugitive.
Earlier, on December 4, the tribunal issued an arrest warrant against Joy after taking cognisance of the formal charges submitted against both accused.
According to the prosecution, Joy and Palak were involved in shutting down nationwide internet services during the July Uprising, an act that allegedly facilitated crimes against humanity. Prosecutors claimed that Palak, while serving as state minister, made public statements and social media posts after receiving approval from Joy, which they said instigated violent attacks on protesting students and civilians by police and Chhatra League activists.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam told the tribunal that Palak, acting on Joy’s instructions, initially throttled mobile internet speed before completely shutting down services. This, he alleged, created conditions for mass arrests, torture and killings. He further claimed that Palak later blocked social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and TikTok to prevent information about the violence from reaching the international community.
“The conspiracy to shut down the internet originated from Sajeeb Wazed Joy, who took the decision after consulting his mother, Sheikh Hasina, and Palak executed it,” the prosecution argued.
The tribunal’s investigation agency submitted its probe report against the accused on December 3, 2025. The upcoming order on January 21 will determine whether the case proceeds to the trial stage.
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