The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants against former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 45 others on charges of mass killings during clamp down on the anti-government protest that led to the ouster of the long-time Awami leader.
The domestic tribunal, which was set up in 2009 to investigate and prosecute suspects for the genocide committed in 1971, gave its decision on the charges related to the murders during the July-August mass uprising on Thursday, BDnews24 reported. According to Bangladesh media, the tribunal has ordered them to appear in court by November 18.
Delivering his address before the tribunal, Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam summarised several ‘crimes against humanity’ during the Awami League’s rule, including the July-August ‘massacre’. More than 700 people died as a result of the student-led movement that ousted Hasina, according to several news agencies. Minority groups in the Muslim-majority nation have made accusations of attacks on Hindus after the political changes.
Political upheaval in Bangladesh that led to the ouster of Hasina also ushered in the interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus after weeks of violent protests forced the Aug. 5 resignation of PM Hasina, who then fled to India. The departure of Hasina’s government has triggered a broad administrative overhaul, with hundreds of senior officials being re-assigned or transferred, and the contracts of some key ones terminated, forcing many of them to resign or retire early.
(With agency inputs)
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