A day after the UN fact-finding mission's report revealed about 1,400 killings, including 100 children, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) filed a murder case with the International Crime Tribunal in Dhaka.
The case accuses former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of being responsible for the deaths of 848 BNP leaders and supporters, who were allegedly killed by law enforcement agencies under the Awami League-led government.
The BNP has also called on India to extradite Hasina and her associates, who are currently in exile in India.
The UN mission began its investigation in September last year and released its report in Geneva on Wednesday. The report uncovered evidence of serious human rights violations. It highlighted the involvement of the former government, security forces, intelligence agencies, and groups affiliated with the Awami League in widespread abuses.
The report also noted that children aged 6 to 12 were among those killed during the violence in the July uprising.
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Sources from Indian intelligence agencies in Bangladesh say the BNP, with the help of the UN report, moved the tribunal against the Awami League. In August last year, the interim government also filed a case against Hasina, accusing her of involvement in genocides during her time in power.
BNP’s secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam, said the UN’s findings prove Hasina is a fascist who tortured, persecuted, and killed people. He called on India to return Hasina to Bangladesh for prosecution. After a meeting with the British acting high commissioner in Dhaka, James Goldman, Islam demanded Hasina's immediate extradition.
In December last year, Bangladesh’s interim government sent a request to India for Hasina’s extradition. However, the Indian government did not respond to the request. Instead, India extended Hasina’s visa and completed the necessary paperwork for her stay in the country.
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