Highlights:

• Investigation reports in 10 July-August 2024 cases under prosecution review
• Former ministers and senior police officials among those named in the cases

International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Chief Prosecutor Md Aminul Islam today (29 June) described ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina's statement in which she expressed her desire to return to Bangladesh from India as a "political stunt" and urged her to face trial over the July killings.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists at his office.

"The announcement by Sheikh Hasina from New Delhi expressing a desire to return to the country is nothing but a political stunt," Aminul Islam said.

"If she truly has courage, let her return to the country and face trial over the July massacre," he added.

Speaking about cases being handled by the Tribunal, the chief prosecutor said investigation reports in 10 cases related to the killings in July-August 2024 have reached the prosecution.

"These reports are currently being scrutinised. After that, they will be submitted to the Tribunal in the form of formal charges," he said.

According to him, the list of accused in those cases includes former ministers Shajahan Khan, Amir Hossain Amu, Kamal Ahmed Majumdar, former justice AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury Manik, and several senior police officials.

Notably, in a recently published interview with Indian media, Sheikh Hasina spoke about returning to Bangladesh within this year.

She remains a fugitive and has been sentenced to death in a crimes against humanity case over the July Uprising killings.