The International Crimes Tribunal has extended the deadline for submitting the investigation report against three journalists in a case involving allegations of incitement to crimes against humanity until January 5, 2027.
The order was issued on the afternoon of October 25, 2026, by a three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-2, led by Chairman Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury. The other two members of the panel are Judges Md. Manjurul Bashid and Noor Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.
The three accused are Shyamal Dutta, editor of Bhorer Kagoj and former general secretary of the National Press Club Mozammel Babu, former editor-in-chief of Ekattor Television and Farzana Rupa, former chief reporter of the same television channel.
Prosecutor Faruk Ahmad sought an additional two months to submit the investigation report on behalf of the prosecution. During the hearing, he said, “All three accused in this case are in custody and were produced before the tribunal today. However, we need an additional two months to complete the investigation and submit the report.”
The tribunal subsequently granted the prosecution’s request and set January 5, 2027, as the next deadline for submitting the investigation report.
On August 24, the tribunal had ordered the three journalists to be shown as arrested in connection with the case and sent to jail. The deadline for submitting the investigation report had previously been set for October 25. Accordingly, the three journalists were brought from prison to the tribunal in the morning under tight security.
According to the prosecution, on July 14, 2024, Sheikh Hasina held a press conference at Ganabhaban on the quota reform movement. During the event, several journalists allegedly made provocative remarks while posing questions.
The prosecution alleges that these remarks prompted the then prime minister to make aggressive statements against the protesters, followed by widespread repression across the country during July and August 2024, during which crimes against humanity were allegedly committed.