At least 23 former ministers, MPs, and liberation-war veterans from the ousted Awami League government, long recognized for their contributions to the 1971 Liberation War, are now in prison on allegations of crimes against humanity and murder linked to the July–August 2024 uprising.
State prosecutors say several among them “allegedly advised or supported the use of deadly force during last year’s unrest,” allegations now before the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).
Since August 2024, dozens of freedom fighters and Liberation War organizers have been detained nationwide.
Confirmed information is available on at least 23 senior figures who remain behind bars.
They include former prime minister’s adviser Dr Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury Bir Bikram; former ministers Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, Amir Hossain Amu, Shahjahan Khan, Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Tipu Munshi, Asaduzzaman Noor, Golam Dastagir Gazi Bir Protik, Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Hasanul Haque Inu and Rashed Khan Menon; MPs Ahmed Hossain, Aftab Uddin Sarker, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Abdul Latif Biswas, Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, and others.
The list also includes senior local leaders such as Matiar Rahman of Meherpur and Shahidul Islam Milon of Jessore.
Many are accused in multiple murder cases; others are facing ICT proceedings alleging crimes against humanity during the July crackdown.
Eight freedom fighters face ICT
On December 8, 17 former ministers and state ministers were produced before the ICT on charges of murder and genocide related to the July–August movement.
Eight of them are freedom fighters.
Prosecutors say the charge sheets do not yet differentiate the accused by role or degree of responsibility, but claim that the names of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President Hasanul Haque Inu and Workers’ Party President Rashed Khan Menon appear in the majority of Dhaka-based cases.
Inu is the lone accused in two cases in Kushtia and Dhaka, both at trial stage.
Investigation against Golam Dastagir Gazi is ongoing in a Narayanganj-centric case.
Prosecutor Gazi MH Tamim said most of the accused are being tried for “organizing crimes against humanity” during the July violence.
He claimed that “Menon and Inu advised Sheikh Hasina during high-level party discussions and suggested imposing curfews, authorizing lethal weapons, and ordering mass arrests” – actions he says were later implemented.
“These suggestions are reflected in the evidence, including phone records,” Tamim said.
Allegations and status
Asaduzzaman Noor: The former cultural affairs minister and five-term MP was arrested on September 16, 2024. Two murder cases are pending against him in Dhaka. His lawyer says progress has been slow.
Rashed Khan Menon: The former minister faces several cases tied to protester deaths. He was arrested from Gulshan on August 22.
Hasanul Haque Inu: Testimony has begun in his cases. A witness told the tribunal he saw Inu advising forceful suppression of protesters through phone calls with Sheikh Hasina after August 5, 2024.
Golam Dastagir Gazi, Bir Protik: Arrested on August 25, 2024, he faces multiple murder cases in Narayanganj and Dhaka, related to the deaths of students and activists during the July movement.
Prosecutors say investigations against Menon and Gazi will conclude in January.
Other high-profile detainees: Numerous others – from former state ministers to district-level freedom fighters – are jailed in murder, violence, weapons, or terrorism-related cases.
These include Dr Mustafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Ahmed Hossain, Tipu Munshi, Aftab Uddin Sarker, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Abdul Latif Biswas, Dr Abdus Shahid, Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam, Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, ABM Tajul Islam, Dipankar Talukder and several more.
Some face allegations of direct involvement in killings; others are accused of conspiracy, incitement or administrative responsibility during the July crackdown.
Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police from Mohammadpur on January 20.
Earlier, in August 2024, former Netrokona-5 MP and Awami League leader Ahmed Hossain was arrested by DB, while former Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was picked up from Gulshan.
Nilphamari MP Abtab Uddin Sarkar was shown arrested in three separate cases.
The charges against them include illegal use of weapons, attempts to spread terrorism and unrest, violence, assault, and attempted murder.
In the same month, DMP raided Nikunja and arrested Shamsul Haque Tuku.
On January 5, Abdul Latif Biswas was taken from his Sirajganj residence and jailed in connection with the killing of 15 policemen in Enayetpur.
In October 2024, police arrested Dr Abdus Shaheed from his Uttara home.
On November 21, Shahjahan Omar was detained over vandalism and an attack on the Rajapur BNP office in Jhalakathi, as well as in a murder case involving Rubel, a worker in Dhaka’s Adabar.
Dhaka-5 MP Kazi Monirul Islam Monu was arrested from Gulshan on April 21, and later shown arrested in a Jatrabari murder case alongside other former MPs and public representatives.
War-wounded freedom fighter Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury was arrested by DB in a late-night raid in Nakhalpara on October 31, 2024, and ordered to appear before the tribunal.
Former State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Captain (Retd) ABM Tajul Islam was arrested from Banasree on August 21, 2024, while former State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Dipankar Talukder was detained from Sobhanbag.
Mass ‘murder cases’
Human rights groups and legal experts have questioned how individuals seated in Dhaka are named as direct accused in murders occurring in Narayanganj or other districts.
Many FIRs list hundreds of names, raising concerns of inflated or politically motivated case filing.
Addressing these concerns on December 10, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman admitted that several “false or exaggerated” cases were filed after the July 24 uprising, mostly by victims or their families, not by police.
To curb wrongful prosecution, the government has inserted Section 173(a) into the Criminal Procedure Code, empowering district SPs and metropolitan police commissioners to review allegations of false case filing and submit interim final reports to prevent injustice.
The imprisonment of so many decorated liberation war veterans – including Bir Bikram, Bir Uttam, and Bir Protik title holders – has triggered national debate.
Many are now spending a second Victory Day behind bars, this time not as heroes of 1971, but as accused in some of the most serious charges under Bangladeshi law.
The coming months, especially as ICT investigations conclude, will determine whether these cases withstand scrutiny, or whether the legal system is forced to revisit one of the most contentious chapters of the post-uprising era.
