Bangladesh tribunal issues 2nd arrest warrant against Hasina

Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) on Monday issued arrest warrants against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 others, including former military generals and an ex-police chief, for their alleged role in incidents of genocide and enforced disappearances.

This was the second arrest warrant by the ICT against Hasina, who fled to India after her Awami League regime’s toppling following unprecedented anti-government protests in August last year. The tribunal has so far recorded three cases against her. “Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, chairman of the tribunal, issued the arrest warrant after hearing a prosecution plea,” an ICT official said.

The Inspector General of Police was ordered to arrest the twelve people, including Hasina, and produce them before the tribunal on February 12 in the case filed over complaints of enforced disappearances of several hundred people.

The deposed premier’s then-defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former IGP Benazir Ahmed are among those named in the case. While Siddique is currently under custody, Ahmed is believed to be on the run.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam did not disclose the names of most of the accused “in the interest of investigations and their arrest”.

“The next hearing for this case is also scheduled for February 12. The tribunal has instructed that the investigation report be submitted on that day if completed,” Islam later told reporters.

He, however, said if the investigation report could not be submitted by then, the law enforcement agencies would have to provide a progress report on the arrests.

Islam told the tribunal that the ousted regime had established a culture of enforced disappearances under state sponsorship.

Told to appear before court on feb 12

The Inspector General of Police was ordered to arrest 12 persons, including Hasina, and produce them before the tribunal on February 12. The deposed premier’s then-defence adviser Maj Gen Tarique Ahmed Siddique (retd) and former IGP Benazir Ahmed are among those named in the case.