Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal, Advocate Tajul Islam addresses the media in Dhaka on October 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), established by ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2010, has issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina, Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, and 44 others. These warrants are in connection with alleged crimes against humanity committed during the July-August 2024 uprising, which led to the downfall of the Hasina government after 16 years in power.

The tribunal, chaired by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Majumdar, issued the orders following two petitions filed by the prosecution seeking the arrest of Ms. Hasina and other key political figures. The tribunal also directed the authorities to arrest the 46 individuals, including ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and present them before the court by November 18. Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam confirmed this.

“We appealed to the court because the accused in these cases are extremely influential,” Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said. “Without their arrest, conducting a fair investigation would be incredibly difficult. Ordinary citizens and even the families of the martyrs are too afraid to speak out against these powerful figures. To ensure a thorough investigation, we requested the issuance of arrest warrants.”

The prosecutor also informed that many of the accused continue to hold important positions within the state, which is why the tribunal has not fully disclosed their identities. However, sources indicate that former Ministers Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Hasan Mahmud, and Anisul Huq are among the 46 individuals.

The ICT was reconstituted on October 14, 2024 with Justice Mortuza appointed as chairman, and Justice Shafiul and former judge Mohitul as members. The restructuring aims to expedite trials related to crimes against humanity and genocide committed during the July-August uprising in the country. The uprising saw at least 753 people killed and thousands injured.

More than 60 complaints of crimes against humanity and genocide have been filed against Ms. Hasina and other senior Awami League leaders with the ICT’s investigation agency. Investigations into these complaints are already under way.

Ms. Hasina’s government originally established the International Crimes Tribunal in 2010 to adjudicate grave crimes committed during the war of independence that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. The tribunal has since convicted and sentenced numerous individuals for crimes against humanity. However, following the massive student and public protests in July-August, Ms. Hasina resigned on August 5 and left the country. The interim government, led by Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, announced that the crimes committed during the July-August protests would also be prosecuted under the ICT.

Meanwhile, arrests of Awami League-affiliated leaders continue daily in Bangladesh. On Thursday (October 17, 2024), former Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, former Home Secretary Jahangir Alam, and former Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzaque were shown arrested in two cases. On the same day, former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam was jailed in connection with the death of a seventh-grader, Rakib Hasan, who was killed during the protests on July 19 in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area.

Hasan Mehedi. File image: Special Arrangement

GUWAHATI

A global media safety and rights body has sought a fair probe into the circumstances that led to the death of Hasan Mehedi, a digital media reporter, during the violent students’ protest in Bangladesh on July 18.

In a statement issued late July 19 night, the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC) said the 35-year-old Mehedi, who worked for Bangla portal Dhaka Times, was killed while covering the clashes between the agitating students and security forces in the Jatrabari area of Dhaka.

Also read | Bangladesh imposes nationwide curfew as deadly protests over government jobs escalate

The Dhaka Times management confirmed that he died from a bullet injury in the head.

Mehedi was the 72nd journalist killed across the world since January 1.

“We demand a fair probe into the incident that led to Mehedi’s killing. As the populous country burns with anti-reservation protests by the youth, the authorities must take precautions to safeguard the media persons on the ground,” PEC president Blaise Lempen said.

“The journalists in Bangladesh continue to work in an adverse situation because of many laws formulated by Dhaka in recent years. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must look into the matter seriously and adequately compensate the bereaved family as early as possible,” he said.

Nava Thakuria, the Guwahati-based South Asia representative of PEC, said many Bangla media outlets remained unresponsive since Thursday when the country witnessed massive protests by the student community.

Mehedi was the first journalist to be killed this year in Bangladesh. Its neighbour Myanmar lost a scribe (Ko Myat Thu Tun) to military atrocities during this period.

India witnessed the killing of two journalists, Shivshankar Jha and Ashutosh Shrivastava. Pakistan lost eight journalists —Hassan Zaib, Khalil Afridi Jibran, Nasrullah Gadani, Kamran Dawar, Mehar Ashfaq Siyal, Maulana Mohammad Siddique Mengal, Jam Saghir Ahmad Lar, and Tahira Nosheen Rana — to assailants this year.