DHAKA: Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) on Monday issued arrest warrants against deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and 11 others, including former military officials, for their alleged role in incidents of “enforced disappearances” during the tenures of the Awami League govt.
This is the second warrant against Hasina, amid growing demands from various quarters, to bring her to justice, especially for “crimes against humanity” committed during the period of protests that led to her govt’s fall in Aug last year. The tribunal ordered that the accused be arrested and produced before it on Feb 12, even as India is yet to respond to Dhaka’s Dec 23 request for Hasina’s extradition.
ICT chief prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam, who filed the case against Hasina and the others, did not reveal the names of all the accused during the hearing for the “sake of arrest and investigation”. The disappearances took place under Hasina’s direct supervision, he claimed. Tajul also claimed that “those who have been released from their disappearances, were released on Hasina’s orders”. He alleged some people from security forces indulged in crimes like disappearances to get postings in UN missions and for promotions. The Interpol has been requested to arrest Hasina.
