Mohammad Taijul Islam, the newly appointed chief prosecutor of Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal ICT, said on Sunday that his office was planning to file for the arrest warrant of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has fled to India. This plan is actually aimed at having Hasina back to answer charges of mass killings that occurred during the July-August students’ uprising.
Islam said that under the extradition treaty with India, necessary actions will be initiated, and an application will be filed to the ICT for an arrest warrant against Hasina and others if the tribunal starts functioning again. He said that information, documents, and evidence against the accused will be collected, compiled, and presented.
Further, he pointed out that the interim government would be involved in considering changes to the legal procedures of the International Crimes Tribunal Act for the trial of new cases. The ICT and its investigation team will also require reconstitution after the immediate resignation of previous judges and investigators after the formation of an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The ICT has launched cases against Hasina & nine others for “genocide” and crimes against humanity” for the violent crackdown during the protests that compelled Hasina to flee to India. According to Health Adviser who was appointed to the interim government, Nurjahan Begum, more than 1,000 people were killed, and many more were injured during the rebellion against Hasina’s government.
