ICT orders publishing notice asking Hasina, Kamal to appear

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 (ICT-1) in Dhaka has ordered publishing a notice in two newspapers calling for the appearance of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal before it within seven days of publishing the notice.

A three-member bench of the ICT-1, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, passed the order on Monday after hearing a petition. The chief prosecutor filed it in connection with a case on crimes against humanity, committed during the July-August 2024 uprising.

On June 1, the ICT-1 took into cognizance the formal charges brought against Sheikh Hasina, Kamal and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun in the case.

The tribunal at the same time issued a fresh arrest warrant against the former premier and the former home minister, as they are absconding. It also asked the respondents to submit a report regarding the two absconding accused and to produce arrested accused Mamun on June 16.

During the hearing on Monday, Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam told the ICT that police did not find Hasina and Kamal in their addresses, and also learned from different sources that they are in India right now.

After the hearing, the ICT-1 ordered to publish the notice in two newspapers - one English and one Bangla - asking the absconding accused persons to appear before the tribunal within seven days of notice publication. The ICT-1 also set June 24 for further hearing on the case.

The chief prosecutor and his team submitted the formal charges to the court, detailing five specific crimes against humanity, including superior command responsibility of the crimes committed during the uprising.

Hasina regime came to an end on August 5 last year. On August 14, a complaint was submitted with the ICT against her on charge of committing crimes against humanity.

The investigation officer started the investigation on October 14, and submitted the report to the chief prosecutor's office on May 12 this year against these three.

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