Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has begun investigating former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and nine others on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity during a mass movement by students against her government from July 15 to August 5.
On Wednesday, a complaint was filed with the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal’s investigation agency against Ms Hasina, Awami League general secretary and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and several other prominent party figures.
Complainant’s lawyer Gazi MH Tamim confirmed on Thursday that the tribunal had begun the investigation on Wednesday night.
Ms Hasina, 76, fled to India on August 5 after resigning from her post amid unprecedented anti-government protests led by students.
The petition also names the Hasina-led Awami League and its affiliated organisations.
The petition was filed by Bulbul Kabir, father of Aarif Ahmed Siyam, a Class IX student who was murdered during the anti-discrimination student movement.
“The (ICT-BD) investigating agency has begun reviewing the allegations… allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity have been filed as a case,” the lawyer said.
The application accused Ms. Hasina and others of conspiring to carry out violent suppression of student protesters, resulting in massive casualties and human rights violations.
He said the progress on the outcome of the probe would be reported within seven days to the tribunal – originally set up to prosecute Bengali-speaking hardline collaborators of Pakistan troops during the 1971 Liberation War.
He said that in accordance with the Tribunal Act, reports published in various media from July 16 to August 6 have been submitted as required documents.
Also on Wednesday, a case of enforced disappearance was filed against Ms Hasina and several others, including former ministers from her Cabinet, for allegedly kidnapping a lawyer in 2015.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court on Thursday asked the police to submit their investigation report by September 15. The case has been filed against Ms Hasina and six others in connection with the death of grocery shop owner Abu Sayeed in police firing in the capital’s Mohammadpur area during a reservation protest on July 19.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Zaki Al Farabi fixed the date for further action after the case was presented in his court.
The incident took place during the now-abolished National Mourning Day holiday, which marks the assassination of Ms Hasina’s father and Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on August 15, 1975.
The interim government of Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus cancelled the holiday after consultations with various political parties.
According to media reports, some parties were in favour of keeping a holiday on the mourning day, while others were opposing it.
Unlike previous years, no sombre wreath-laying ceremony was held at Bangabandhu’s private residence at 32 Dhanmondi, later converted into a memorial museum, which was set on fire by an angry mob after Ms Hasina resigned and fled to India.
“Nobody supports this… but someone’s (Ms Hasina’s government’s) excesses led to this extreme reaction,” Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, a leader and spokesperson of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), told PTI, referring to the attack on the museum.
‘he is responsible’
Political commentator and editor of the New Age newspaper Nurul Kabir, known for his strong criticism of the previous government, said Ms Hasina herself was responsible for her father’s defamation.
“Who can deny his contribution to the creation of Bangladesh,” Mr Kabir said.
“The blame is on them (Ms Hasina’s government or party),” he said.
Reports and eyewitnesses said that film actress Rokeya Prachi and several others tried to enter the museum and stage a sit-in but were dispersed by the protesters.
On Thursday, a huge crowd of people carrying sticks gathered in front of the museum to prevent anyone from paying homage to the statue of Mujibur Rahman at Bangabandhu Bhaban.
“I went to pay homage in the morning. But I could not pay floral tribute,” said the leader of the Krishak Sramik Awami League, a 1971 veteran and a party affiliated to the opposition camp. He complained that bricks were thrown at his car, damaging it.
Student-led protests demanding reforms in reservations in government jobs spiraled into a movement to topple the government in early August.
More than 230 people were killed in Bangladesh in incidents of violence that broke out across the country following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5, taking the death toll during the three-week violence to 560.
Following Ms Hasina’s resignation, a caretaker government was formed in the country led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who promised to address administrative and political reforms and hold accountable those involved in the violence.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
