In a significant move amid rising political tensions in Bangladesh, a leader from the Awami League has lodged a complaint against Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, a prominent figure in the Awami League and a former mayor of Sylhet, filed the complaint at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, under Article 15 of the Rome Statute.
The complaint not only names Yunus but also includes 61 other individuals, such as cabinet members and key figures from the Anti-Discrimination Alliance student group.
The allegations come at a time when Bangladesh’s political landscape is fraught with challenges. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the Awami League, stepped down and left the country on August 5 under mounting pressure from protestors, many of whom were part of the anti-quota movement.
Following her departure, the Awami League claims that many of its supporters and affiliates, along with minority communities, became targets of violent repression.
Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury announced the complaint in a video message posted on the Awami League's official Facebook page. In his statement, he accused Yunus and his associates of perpetrating “genocide” and severe “crimes against humanity.”
Chowdhury stated that, between August 5 and August 8, Awami League members, affiliates, and minority groups including Hindus, Christians, and Buddhists suffered brutal attacks. He claimed that the police force, which he described as supportive of the Awami League, also faced intense persecution during this period.
Chowdhury’s statement, which reached a wide audience through social media, emphasised the gravity of the situation. He explained that the complaint included extensive documentation—around 800 pages of evidence—to support the claims of human rights abuses.
According to Chowdhury, the Awami League has collected and submitted comprehensive evidence of the alleged attacks, hoping to hold Yunus and others accountable on an international stage.
The ICC’s involvement could bring unprecedented attention to Bangladesh’s political crisis, as this is one of the first instances of the Awami League, or any political party in Bangladesh, formally seeking justice through an international tribunal. The complaint, if accepted, could lead to a preliminary examination by the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor, which may decide to investigate the allegations further.
Chowdhury also announced that this is just the beginning of a large-scale legal effort. He revealed plans to file up to 15,000 more complaints at the ICC in the near future.
According to him, these complaints will be submitted individually by those who were affected by the alleged violence. The Awami League aims to ensure that voices of all who suffered are heard on an international platform, underscoring the scale of the issue and the party's commitment to seeking justice.
This international legal action highlights the growing mistrust and hostilities between the Awami League and Bangladesh’s interim government. Tensions have continued to escalate since Sheikh Hasina’s departure, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives about the state of the nation and the well-being of its citizens.
While the interim government has maintained that it is working towards stability and peace, the Awami League insists that the country has descended into chaos, with its members and allies as primary targets.
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