Trial proceedings in four crimes against humanity cases, excluding the one against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her two aides which is set for verdict on November 17, are expected to be completed by December.

At the same time, investigations into 10 additional cases linked to the July uprising and an enforced disappearance during the Awami League government are nearing completion, with probe reports expected to be submitted to the prosecution of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) soon.

Within the next one to one-and-a-half months, witness testimony and arguments in the four ongoing cases at ICT-1 and ICT-2 are expected to be complete, Prosecutor Gazi Monawar Hossain Tamim told The Daily Star.

He hoped that trial proceedings of five more cases -- three filed over crimes against humanity during the July uprising and two relating to enforced disappearances during the Awami League's immediate past rule -- would conclude from the part of the prosecution within two to three months.

"It is up to the tribunals when the verdicts will come," he added.

Among the five cases, ICT-2 indicted former minister and JSD president Hasanul Haq Inu on November 2 on charges including murder, instigation, abetment, persecution, complicity and aiding ruling party leaders and law enforcers in killing unarmed civilians during the July uprising.

On the same day, the tribunal framed charges against AL Joint General Secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif and three Kushtia Awami League leaders for allegedly killing six people during the unrest in the district.

Besides, on October 8, the prosecution submitted formal charges against 32 individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, former home minister Asaduzzaman, three former RAB director generals and 25 current and former army officers.

Two of the cases involve enforced disappearances, secret detention and torture during the AL regime, while one concerns the killing of 28 people in Rampura during the uprising.

FOUR TRIALS NEARING COMPLETION

The four cases whose trial is expected to be complete by December are: the killing of six people at Chankharpul in Dhaka on August 5 last year; the killing of seven people and burning bodies of six of them in a police pick-up van in Ashulia the same day; the police shooting that killed Rangpur Begum Rokeya University (BRU) student Abu Sayed on July 16; and the killing of two and injuring of two more in police firing at Rampura on July 19.

In the Chankharpul case, eight policemen including former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner Habibur Rahman stand accused, with four currently in custody and four, including Habibur, still at large.

Investigation officer Md Monirul Islam is testifying as the 25th prosecution witness. Once his statement and cross-examination are completed, arguments will begin as the defence failed to submit a witness list on time, Tamim said.

In the Ashulia killing-and-burning case, the 22nd witness has already testified and been examined.

Prosecution sources said the special investigation officer may testify on November 18 and then the investigation officer will testify.

If the defence presents no witnesses, the case will move to arguments and then await a verdict.

Sixteen people including former lawmaker Saiful Islam and former Dhaka Range DIG Syed Nurul Islam are accused. Eight, among them former sub-inspector Sheikh Abzalul Haque, now an approver, are in custody.

In the Abu Sayed killing case, 16 witnesses have so far testified. Thirty people including former BRU vice-chancellor Hasibur Rashid and former Rangpur Metropolitan Police commissioner Md Moniruzzaman are accused. Six are in custody and the rest are absconding.

In the Rampura case, ICT-1 has recorded statements of 11 witnesses. Five policemen, including former DMP commissioner Habibur, have been charged. Only one accused, former assistant sub-inspector Chanchal Chandra Sarkar, is in custody.

PROBES IN 10 MORE CASES ALMOST DONE

The ICT investigation agency has nearly completed probes into 10 additional cases linked to the July uprising and an enforced disappearance under the previous regime.

Probe reports will be submitted in separate cases against several high-profile political figures, including former ministers Obaidul Quader and Anisul Huq, former adviser Salman F Rahman, former Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

They face allegations of making provocative remarks, issuing specific instructions and aiding mass killings during the uprising. Among them, Anisul, Salman and Palak are currently in custody.

A probe report into an enforced disappearance case against Maj Gen (relieved) Ziaul Ahsan, currently in custody, is also set to be filed soon.

Investigations have likewise concluded in the killings of Golam Nafis in Farmgate and Shaikh Ashabul Yamin in Savar. The probe into Nafis's August 4, 2024 killing was completed several days ago and identifies 27 individuals. Formal charges could have been filed in the case earlier, a source said.

Ashabul Yamin, a student at the Military Institute of Science and Technology, was shot by police in Savar on July 18, 2024.

Viral footage showed law enforcers dragging him from an Armoured Personnel Carrier, injured and barely conscious, before dumping him on a road divider. He later died at the hospital.

"We are coordinating with the investigation agency on various cases. We expect that investigation reports of another ten cases will come to us very soon," Tamim said.