Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Thursday issued arrest warrants against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others on charges of crimes against humanity.
Hasina, 77, who was ousted in August after mass protests, faces nearly 200 cases, primarily related to the killings during the student-led movement.
The Tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the warrants on the first day of proceedings by the newly reconstituted ICT, according to reports by Dhaka Tribune.
The prosecution, led by Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, filed two petitions seeking arrest warrants.
Hasina and the other accused, many of whom are senior leaders of the Awami League, have been ordered to appear before the Tribunal by 18 November.
The charges stem from a wave of violence that erupted across Bangladesh following protests against the government's controversial quota system in public sector jobs.
These protests culminated in August with the ousting of Hasina’s government. Over 1,000 people are believed to have died in the violence that followed the fall of her administration, with more than 60 complaints of murder, enforced disappearance, and mass killings filed against Hasina, her political allies, journalists, and former law enforcement officials.
After widespread unrest peaked on 5 August, Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled the country. She is now thought to be in India, at an undisclosed location.
The interim government, which took office on 8 August, has committed to prosecuting those responsible for the violence through the ICT. The government has not ruled out seeking Hasina’s extradition to Bangladesh.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in an interview in September, said, “Hasina making political remarks from India is an unfriendly gesture,” and added that she must refrain from speaking out to avoid discomfort for both countries until her extradition is requested.
The ICT, which had been dissolved during Hasina’s tenure, was reconstituted by the interim government. The Tribunal’s judges, prosecution team, and investigative agency had resigned after the fall of Hasina’s government.
Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said that authorities would seek the assistance of Interpol to bring back Hasina and other fugitives. “We will seek Interpol’s help to ensure they are returned to face justice,” Islam said.
The Tribunal’s actions mark a significant step in addressing the alleged crimes committed during Hasina’s tenure.
The political landscape in Bangladesh remains tense as the interim government proceeds with efforts to bring the former prime minister and her allies to justice.
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