Asif Nazrul, adviser to the transitional government on legal affairs, has indicated that those implicated in these violent incidents, including Sheikh Hasina, may face prosecution by the International Crimes Tribunal
DHAKA: A significant legal development has occurred in Bangladesh with the filing of a case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and eight other members of her now-dissolved Cabinet, along with several police officers. The charges include “crimes against humanity” and “genocide.” The case was submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal in Dhaka, as confirmed by Ataur Rahman, a deputy director of the tribunal’s investigation agency.
The International Crimes Tribunal, established by the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina in 2010, was initially created to prosecute individuals who opposed Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence. The tribunal has previously tried several prominent opposition leaders, but the current case marks a notable shift as it involves high-ranking members of the ruling party. The impetus for this case stems from a tragic incident involving Alif Ahmed Siam, a ninth-grade student who was fatally shot by police during protests on August 5. His father filed the suit through his lawyer, Gazi MH Tanim.
The case encompasses alleged killings that occurred from July 1 to August 5 amidst widespread student protests. Asif Nazrul, adviser to the transitional government on legal affairs, has indicated that those implicated in these violent incidents, including Sheikh Hasina, may face prosecution by the International Crimes Tribunal. Nazrul emphasized that no one would be spared from accountability and hinted at potential involvement of the United Nations in the investigation process.
This legal action adds to a series of accusations and lawsuits previously filed against Hasina, including charges of murder and abduction. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh for India on August 5, now faces the possibility of international scrutiny and legal consequences. The tribunal’s acceptance of this case highlights the ongoing and contentious political landscape in Bangladesh, where legal actions against former and current leaders continue to shape the country’s judicial and political environment.
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