Arrest warrants were issued Monday against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 accomplices in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings during her rule.
Among the 11 others wanted the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) in Dhaka on charges of the offences allegedly committed during the 15 years are Hasina's defence adviser Major-Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former inspector-general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
A two-member bench of the tribunal headed by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.
The other member of the bench was Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury.
The tribunal ordered police to produce the persons who will be arrested through the warrants on February 12.
It also ordered producing Major-General (sacked) Ziaul Ahsan, who is already behind bars after getting arrested in some other cases, on February 12 after showing him arrested in the case.
Many victims and family members of the victims of enforced disappearances were present at the tribunal at the time.
International Crimes Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor, Muhammad Tajul Islam, earlier in the day filed the case with the tribunal accusing 12 persons, including the former Prime Minister, on charges of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings that took place during the past Awami League regime of 15 years.
During the hearing, Mr Tajul Islam said, "Incidents of the enforced disappearances took place under direct supervision of Sheikh Hasina during the Awami League regime.
The former Prime Minister is named here for having 'superior responsibility' for the incidents. Those who were freed from their disappearances had also been released on Sheikh Hasina's orders. These disappearances were carried out to consolidate the power of one person."
The Chief Prosecutor wouldn't disclose the names of all the accused in the hearing "for the sake of arrest and investigation". He only revealed the names of the four.
So far, two cases have been filed with the International Crimes Tribunal against the former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, who quit the country amid the August-5th uprising.
The tribunal has also issued an arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina in the first case. Based on that warrant, the Office of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal has already requested the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to arrest Sheikh Hasina. In addition, Bangladesh has sent a letter to India for extraditing her to stand trial.
Prosecutors Gazi MH Tamim, BM Sultan Mahmud and Abdullah Al Noman were also present at the tribunal during the hearing of the case.
bikashju@gmail.com