Arrest warrants against Hasina, her son Joy, 4 others over genocide

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued an arrest warrant against Awami League President and former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday (17 October) on charges of genocide committed during the anti-discrimination student movement protests.

The tribunal has also issued arrest warrants against 45 others, including Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, and Hasina's son and former ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

In two separate hearings, the tribunal ordered the law enforcement agencies to ensure the arrest of the accused and present them before it by 18 November, the date set for the next hearing on the cases.

Among others named in the warrant list are former law minister Anisul Huq, former freedom fighters affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former state minister for information technology Junaid Ahmed Palak, and writer Prof Zafar Iqbal.

The tribunal declined to reveal the other names for the "sake of the sake of investigation".

Mohammad Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor of the tribunal, said the names of everyone on the arrest warrant cannot be disclosed at this moment in the interest of investigation.

The warrant against Sheikh Hasina has been issued as per the government's commitment to bring the mastermind of the July massacre to justice, he told the media after the issuance of the warrant.

The warrant has been issued on the basis of the government's request and subsequent evidence submission to the ICT. 

"We told the tribunal that the crimes that were committed during anti-discrimination student movement were done by influential people, and investigation can't be carried out without arresting them. The tribunal has heard our plea and issued a warrant to nab the chief perpetrator, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina," Tajul said.

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 over the alleged crimes committed during the movement, with the international community closely watching developments.

The hearings

The warrants were issued after Tajul Islam appealed for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina before the ICT, headed by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar along with two other judges. It was the first time the ICT resumed proceedings after 5 August.

At around 11:30am, the chief prosecutor read out the case submissions and requested arrest warrants in two cases. He presented the description of all the murders, massacres, extrajudicial killings, and Pilkhana killings during Sheikh Hasina's dictatorial rule.

He mentioned that Sheikh Hasina's arrest is necessary to investigate allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity.

At one point, the court inquired if the state knew of the whereabouts of the accused. The prosecutor responded with a "no". 

A total of 56 complaints of genocide have been filed against Sheikh Hasina at the ICT. Her cabinet members, leaders of coalition parties, several senior law enforcement officials, and leaders of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Jubo League are also accused. 

The ICT

The ICT was established 39 years after the Liberation War to prosecute crimes against humanity committed in 1971. It officially began its proceedings on 25 March 2010. 

A second tribunal (Tribunal-2) was formed on 22 March 2012, but the two were merged into a single tribunal on 15 September 2015. The current tribunal (International Crimes Tribunal-1) continues to hear cases.

Following the political change on 5 August when Hasina fled to India, the then-chairman of the tribunal retired, one member was reassigned to the High Court, and another resigned. Additionally, prosecutors appointed during the Awami League's tenure stepped down. 

On 5 September, the law ministry issued a notification appointing the chief prosecutor and other prosecutors to the ICT. On 14 October, the tribunal was reconstituted, and the next day, a three-member judicial panel joined the tribunal.