The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on Sunday concluded witness testimony in the crimes against humanity case over the July Uprising against Bangladesh Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and six other senior leaders, and fixed August 4 for final arguments.

The order was passed by a three-member tribunal led by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury after the prosecution's investigating officer, Ahmed Naser Uddin Mohammad, was cross-examined as the 27th and final witness by state defence lawyers Lokman Howlader and Ishrat Jahan.

The tribunal had earlier concluded the first phase of testimony on April 27 and scheduled the case for arguments. However, following a prosecution petition, it later recorded the testimony of journalist Ashraf Kaiser on July 26 and subsequently recalled the investigating officer for further cross-examination.

The seven accused, all currently fugitives, are Obaidul Quader, Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat, Jubo League President Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, Jubo League General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, Bangladesh Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain and its General Secretary Wali Asif Inan.

ICT-2 formally opened the trial on January 22 this year after framing charges against the seven accused. The tribunal had taken cognisance of the prosecution's formal charges on December 18 last year.

According to the prosecution, the accused coordinated efforts to suppress the July Uprising by issuing directives, inciting violence, planning attacks through secret meetings, mobilising party activists, and facilitating armed assaults and media control. It alleges that these actions resulted in widespread killings, attempted murders and other acts amounting to crimes against humanity.

Prosecutor Faruk Ahmad conducted the hearing on behalf of the prosecution, assisted by Prosecutor Moinul Karim and other members of the prosecution team.