Deadline set as tribunal pushes for conclusion of investigation into former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s alleged role in mass uprising violence.
In a significant development on Monday, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal instructed investigators to complete their probe into ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her close aides by December 17. The tribunal is investigating charges of crimes against humanity, stemming from the violent repression of a mass uprising earlier this year that resulted in hundreds of deaths.
Golam Mortuza Majumdar, the head judge of the three-member tribunal, set the deadline after hearing updates from police about the ongoing investigation. The investigation focuses on Hasina and others implicated in the violence that erupted during protests earlier this summer. The tribunal heard from Bangladesh’s security agencies regarding efforts to arrest Hasina, who has been in exile in India since fleeing the country on August 5, following widespread student-led protests.
Chief prosecutor Mohammed Tajul Islam explained that the investigation is being conducted in accordance with an extradition treaty signed between Bangladesh and India, which is aimed at facilitating Hasina’s return. The tribunal issued arrest warrants for Hasina and 45 others, including former Cabinet ministers, military officials, and civil servants, on October 17.
The mass uprising in July and August initially began as student protests over government jobs but escalated into a broader anti-government movement. Authorities claim that security forces were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people during the unrest, which ultimately led to the fall of Hasina’s 15-year rule. Hasina had previously called for an investigation into the killings, which were reportedly carried out by security agents suppressing the protests.
On Monday, 13 suspects, including a former law minister and a businessman who was Hasina’s private-sector adviser, appeared before the tribunal. Another former Cabinet minister was not present due to police custody in a separate case. A further six individuals are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, and at least 20 suspects have been arrested thus far.
Following the hearing, the tribunal’s head judge ordered that the 13 detained suspects be sent to jail while investigations continue. The tribunal also sought updates from the police on their efforts to arrest the remaining suspects, including Hasina. Bangladesh’s authorities have requested assistance from Interpol, through the country’s police chief, to apprehend Hasina, with interim government leader Muhammad Yunus publicly stating that his administration would pursue her extradition from India.
The investigation and subsequent legal proceedings reflect the deep political unrest in Bangladesh, as the country remains in a tense period of transition under an interim government.
