[🇧🇩] International Crimes Tribunal Act & The Crimes Against Humanity

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ICT rebukes govt for arrest warrant failure

The International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday rebuked the prosecution for failing to execute arrest warrants against suspects linked to the July-August 2024 genocide and crimes against humanity, and enforced disappearances during the ousted Awami League regime.

www.newagebd.net

ICT rebukes govt for arrest warrant failure
M Moneruzzaman 31 January, 2025, 00:30

The International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday rebuked the prosecution for failing to execute arrest warrants against suspects linked to the July-August 2024 genocide and crimes against humanity, and enforced disappearances during the ousted Awami League regime.

The three-judge tribunal, comprising Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, Md Shofiul Alam Mahmood, and retired judge Mohitul Haque Anam Chawdhury, also criticised the prosecution for missing its deadline to submit formal charges against suspects accused of crimes against humanity in the capital’s Jatrabari area during the student-led mass uprising.

The tribunal directed the prosecution to file applications seeking action against those failing to comply with the tribunal’s orders.

According to a source in the ICT’s investigation agency, they were now investigating 27 cases by merging a total of 190 complaints.

The agency received several complaints regarding crimes against humanity in Uttara, but merged them into a single case, the investigator gave an example.

Despite these ongoing investigations, the prosecution is yet to file formal charges in any of the 27 cases.

The tribunal on Thursday set April 6 for the prosecution to submit formal charges regarding the Jatrabari crimes, including the murder of Imam Hasan Taim on July 20, 2024.

It warned that the authorities would be held accountable if all suspects were not arrested as per existing warrants and if investigations were not completed within the extended timeframe.

During Thursday’s hearing, prosecutor BM Sultan Mahmud informed the tribunal that out of six accused in the Jatrabari case, only two—Tanzil Ahmed, former assistant commissioner of DMP’s Wari zone, and Abul Hossain, former officer-in-charge of Jatrabari police station— were arrested.

The two officers were produced before the tribunal on Thursday for a scheduled hearing.

When asked whether the prosecution was facing difficulties in executing arrest warrants, Sultan Mahmud alleged that law enforcement agencies were not cooperating with the investigation team.

He cited an instance where Dhaka Metropolitan Police high-ups refused to assist in arresting a suspect, prompting frustration from the tribunal.

‘Who will catch the accused? How will the trial proceed?’ the tribunal asked and instructed the prosecution to file an application against those disobeying the court’s orders.

‘We cannot understand what kind of investigation is going on,’ one of the judges expressed his disappointment and suggested the prosecution to seek government intervention.

Another judge criticised the lack of progress in arrests, pointing out that despite nearly 2,000 people being killed in the July-August atrocities, only 35 suspects were arrested.

Prosecutor Gazi Monwar Hossain Tamim informed the tribunal that so far, arrest warrants had been issued for 100 suspects linked to July-August crimes and enforced disappearances during the Awami League regime.

Among those facing arrest warrants are deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India on August 5, 2024, and several high-profile Awami League figures, including the party general secretary Obaidul Quader and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, and members of the law enforcement and intelligent agencies during the ousted regime of Sheikh Hasina.

The ICT was established in 2009 during the Awami League rule to try 1971 war crimes cases. Over the years, the tribunal disposed of 55 cases.

After the ouster of the Awami League regime amid a mass uprising on August 5, 2024, the interim government reconstituted the International Crimes Tribunal on October 14, 2024, to prosecute those responsible for 2024 July-August war crimes.​

 

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MASS UPRISING: Victim families block Shahbagh for speedy trial

The families of a number of student-led mass uprising martyrs on Thursday morning blocked the Shahbagh crossing demanding speedy trial of those involved in the massacre.

www.newagebd.net

MASS UPRISING: Victim families block Shahbagh for speedy trial
Staff Correspondent 06 February, 2025, 15:25

Family members of the victims in the July-August student-led mass uprising block the Shahbagh crossing, demanding speedy trial of those involved in the massacre, in Dhaka on Thursday. | Focus Bangla photo

The families of a number of student-led mass uprising martyrs on Thursday morning blocked the Shahbagh crossing demanding speedy trial of those involved in the massacre.

They blocked the crossing for around seven and a half hours from 11:00am to 6:30pm to press home their three-point demand.

The blockade halted vehicular movement at the capital’s busy crossing causing huge traffic congestion on the nearby roads and immense sufferings to the commuters.

The demands are speedy trial of perpetrators after a fair investigation, state recognition of the martyrs, and monthly allowances for their families as well as rehabilitation of the martyrs’ families, said a protester, Gausullha Raju, also brother of martyr Abdullah Kabir.

They lifted the blockade after Jatiya Nagarik Committee chief organiser Sarjis Alam assured the protesters that meetings would be held between interim government advisers, including the chief adviser and representatives of the victim families within a few days to meet their logical demands.

‘It is unfortunate and shameful that victim families have taken to the streets,’ Sarjis said, adding that it will be the biggest limitation of the government if it fails to bring Awami League leaders and activists involved in the massacre to book.

The victims’ family members held a press conference at the end of January raising their 10-point demand and met the interim government advisers, Raju said, adding that the authorities assured the families of addressing their demands in a week.

‘We are left with no option but to hold the blockade as the authorities have not taken any initiative,’ added Raju.

Kabir’s sister Afsana Ahmed said that her brother was killed by ousted Awami League leaders at Mirpur 10 on August 4 and a case was filed with the Mirpur model police station on August 22.

‘Six months have passed but no one has been arrested,’ Afsana said, adding that all are busy with power politics and elections but no one is working to ensure justice.

Abdullah Al Maruf, brother of martyr Anwar, who was killed on August 5 at Mirpur, said that a case was filed with the Mirpur model police station three months ago but only one person was arrested in the case.

‘Ensuring the trial of the involved persons in July-August massacre should be the priority of the interim government, but we do not see any initiative for that,’ said Maruf.

He added that the victims’ family members would go for a tougher movement if the authorities do not take visible steps immediately to address their demands.

‘We will continue the blockade till our demands are met,’ said Maruf.

Shahbagh police officer-in-charge Mohammad Khalid Mansoor said that police tried to convince the protesters to withdraw the blockade but they refused and continued it.

In a statement, issued on Thursday, the interim government said that the trial of those involved in the July massacre was progressing in full swing.

‘The interim government is committed to ensuring justice and delivering appropriate punishment to the perpetrators of the genocide,’ read the statement.

According to government data, 834 people were killed and 11,551 injured during the uprising that began on July 1 with protests demanding quota reform in civil service jobs and culminated in the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.

The government is still updating the data.​