ICT issues arrest warrant against Hasina; asks to be produced before court by 18 Nov
The tribunal also ordered the law enforcement agencies to ensure the arrest of Sheikh Hasina and 45 others, and present them before the tribunal by 18 November
The International Crimes Tribunal has issued an arrest warrant against Awami League President and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for genocide during the protests of anti-discrimination student movement.
The International Criminal Tribunal also has issued arrest warrants against 45 others, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who are absconding in another case of genocide and crimes against humanity.
Chief Prosecutor Advocate Mohammad Tajul Islam applied for an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina to the International Criminal Tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar and two other judges today (17 October).
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The chief prosecutor presented the description of all the murders, massacres, extrajudicial killings, and Pilkhana killings during Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial rule following which the ICT issued an arrest warrant against her.
In two separate hearings, the tribunal also ordered the law enforcement agencies to ensure the arrest of Sheikh Hasina and 45 others and present them before the tribunal by 18 November.
The petition mentions that Sheikh Hasina's arrest is necessary to investigate allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity.
In the complaint, 15 July to 5 August, when the protests of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement took place, was cited as the time of the incident and the entire Bangladesh as the location of the incident.
The nature of the crime was stated as the accused firing locally made weapons as well as firearms under the order of the accused number one to nine and killing unarmed students who were protesting against discrimination with a view to their total or partial extermination, the crime of committing genocide and crimes against humanity.
Earlier reports suggested that the prosecution would seek arrest warrants against 50 people, including Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the atrocities that took place during the July-August period.
The trial, now in progress, marks a significant step towards justice for the alleged crimes committed during the movement, with the international community closely watching the developments.
