A new complaint was lodged on Tuesday with Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal, alleging former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 23 others committed crimes against humanity and genocide during a 2013 rally by the Islamist group Hefajat-e-Islam at Motijheel’s Shapla Chattar.
The complaint was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tamim on behalf of Mufti Harun Ijahar Chowdhury, joint secretary general for education and law at Hefajat-e-Islam, as reported by The Daily Star.
The tribunal has acknowledged the complaint, initiating an investigation. “We have registered the complaint, and the investigation has begun from today,” said Ataur Rahman, deputy director of the investigation agency, as quoted by the newspaper.
According to Rahman, the preliminary investigation and site visits are underway, after which, once the tribunal is reconstituted, arrest warrants for the accused will be sought through the prosecution.
This marks the fourth complaint filed against the 76-year-old Hasina, who resigned and fled to India on August 5 amid widespread protests against her administration over a controversial quota system in government jobs.
Three of the four complaints relate to recent violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Among the other accused are Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader, former minister Rashed Khan Menon, and ex-mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh.
Former prime minister’s advisor Salman F Rahman, ex-security advisor Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former police inspector general AKM Shahidul Haque, ABnews24.com editor Subhash Singha Roy, and ex-army chief Aziz Ahmed.
Additional unnamed ministers, state ministers, lawmakers, law enforcement officials, and media policymakers were also implicated.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called on India to extradite Hasina to face trial, accusing her of conspiring to thwart the country’s revolution.
The fallout from the protests led to widespread violence, claiming over 230 lives and pushing the death toll beyond 600 since student-led demonstrations began in mid-July.
Following Hasina’s government’s collapse, an interim administration was formed, with 84-year-old Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed as Chief Adviser.
