The International Crimes Tribunal on Sunday took cognisance of formal charges against eight people, including former Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor A S M Maksud Kamal and Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, in a crimes against humanity case over alleged killings and torture during the July mass uprising.

A three-member Tribunal-1, headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, formally accepted the charges submitted by the prosecution.

Prosecutor S M Moinul Karim said the tribunal issued arrest warrants against five accused, including Zafar Iqbal and Maksud Kamal, who are currently at large.

The other three are then Bangladesh Chhatra League president Saddam Hossain, its then general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan, and then Dhaka University Chhatra League president Mazharul Kabir Shayan.

The tribunal ordered that the accused already detained in other cases be produced before it on October 22. Those in custody in other cases will be shown as arrested in this case and subsequently produced before the tribunal.

The three other accused currently in custody are Professor A K M Jamal Uddin, former Supreme Court judge A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, and then Dhaka University Chhatra League general secretary Tanvir Hasan Saikat.

Prosecutor Moinul Karim read out the formal charges before the tribunal.

According to prosecutor Mizanul Islam, the alleged crimes were committed following direct communication with then prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and on the basis of their instructions and advice.

The charges allege that five people were killed and numerous others subjected to torture in and around the Dhaka University campus with their alleged instructions and assistance.

The five people named in the alleged killings are Md Shahjahan, Khalid Hasan Saifullah, Saiful Islam Shovon, Abdul Wadud and Shaon Shikdar.