On Thursday, the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) directed the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to preserve all data from the August mass-uprising period in its original condition. The tribunal also instructed mobile operators and internet service providers to cooperate with the ICT’s ongoing investigation.
The three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, issued the orders in response to a request from the prosecution, as confirmed by Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.
In a separate matter, a report published in the daily Kalbela claimed that the ICT had ordered the submission of wealth statements from 75 prominent individuals of the last Awami League government. However, Tajul Islam clarified that no such order had been issued by the tribunal. In response, the ICT issued a suo moto order, requiring the concerned reporter to appear before the tribunal on January 20 to explain the matter.
Tajul Islam further explained that the tribunal has the legal authority to summon individuals, authorities, or request documents without a formal order. Nonetheless, the prosecution filed a petition today, which resulted in the tribunal issuing an order related to the investigation.
