DHAKA: The International Crimes Tribunal (Bangladesh), a domestic war crimes body, directed the prosecution on Monday to complete its investigation against ousted PM Sheikh Hasina and 13 others in a genocide case by December 17. They face charges of crimes against humanity related to the July-Aug uprising that resulted in hundreds of deaths.
The three-member ICT, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, had issued an arrest warrant for Hasina on October 17 in connection with her alleged role in “crimes against humanity” and “genocide”. Chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam stated that Hasina “had superior command responsibility” over numerous killings, acts of genocide, and crimes against humanity committed in the country over the past 16.5 years of her tenure.
Authorities have been unable to execute the arrest warrant as Hasina “fled the country”. Tajul said, “We have pleaded for the issuance of an Interpol red notice against her. We have learned that she is in India, and our govt will request her repatriation in accordance with the bilateral agreement. The process is underway.”
BNP unhappy over no talk on poll timeline by Yunus
Bangladesh Nationalist Party expressed disappointment over interim govt chief adviser Muhammad Yunus‘s address to the nation, saying he had failed to give a “clear outline” for upcoming elections. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said his party had expected Yunus to identify key problems and propose a roadmap for elections that “would reflect the people’s aspirations”.