Seminar: Prospects and Challenges of the Trial of July Massacre at ICT
Dhaka, June 14, 2025 – Manarat International University, in collaboration with Subichar Trust recently organized a high‑level seminar titled “Prospects and Challenges for the Trial at the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh” at its permanent campus in Ashulia, Dhaka. The event was spearheaded by the University’s Department of Law and featured legal experts and academics discussing major themes surrounding the July genocide trials.
Key Highlights
- Main speaker: Barrister Shyikh Mahdi, Prosecutor at the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh, delivered a detailed exposition on why the tribunal is the appropriate venue for addressing the July genocide cases. He offered insights into the registration of cases and various procedural stages of the trial.
- Broader discussion topics:
- Crimes against humanity adjudicated by the ICT,
- International legitimacy of trials held in absentia,
- Legal and political hurdles faced in bringing perpetrators to justice,
- Public expectations for accountability and for delivering justice to survivors.
- Distinguished participants: Among the guest speakers were Advocate Uday Tasmeer (an alumnus of the Law Department), department head Azharul Islam Habib, Assistant Professor Abdullahil Gani, Barrister Tasneem Ferdous, and Sumaiya Islam. The seminar was hosted by law student Md. Hasan Mahmud.
Concluding Session
In concluding remarks, Barrister Shyikh Mahdi addressed students’ inquiries concerning the process of prosecuting July genocide cases, the feasibility of trials held without the physical presence of defendants, and accountability for atrocities committed under past authoritarian regimes.
Why This Matters
This seminar represents a meaningful effort by Manarat International University’s Law Department to engage emerging legal professionals with pressing national and global justice issues. By focusing on the ongoing July genocide trials through the ICT, the university is fostering critical discourse on transitional justice, legal ethics, and civic responsibility.
🔗 Original coverage published by Dhaka Mail on December 11, 2024 at 9:09 PM. (Dhaka Mail)
