Quader ordered Arafat to stop airing attack reports during July Uprising

A new call recording submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal has revealed that former Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader allegedly ordered then information minister Mohammad Ali Arafat to stop television channels from broadcasting reports on attacks on protesters during the July Mass Uprising.

The prosecution submitted the recording to ICT-2 on Monday during arguments in the case over crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the uprising.

Earlier, Quader had also instructed former ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak to slow internet services across the country at the height of the movement, the prosecution said.

The disclosures came during arguments before a three-member Tribunal-2 panel headed by Justice Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, with Justices Md Manzurul Bashid and Nur Mohammad Shahriar Kabir.

The prosecution presented the call recordings as evidence against seven accused, including Quader and Arafat. The other accused are former Awami League joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Jubo League president Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, its general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil, and former Chhatra League leaders Saddam Hossain and Sheikh Wali Asif Enan.

Arguments in the case began on August 4 and continued on August 6. The prosecution presented its third day of arguments on Monday.