ICT prosecution finds Hasina’s superior command responsibility over numerous crimes in last 16.5 years

Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam today said ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina had superior command responsibility over numerous killings, genocides, and crimes against humanity committed in the country in the last 16.5 years.

"We all are talking about the killings, genocides, crimes against humanity committed during the July-August student mass uprising, but the regime of Sheikh Hasina committed numerous such crimes in the last sixteen and a half years and she had superior command responsibility over all those crimes," the ICT chief prosecutor said while taking part in the hearing of ICT, BD misc (miscellaneous) case no 2 against Sheikh Hasina.

Advocate Muhammad Tajul Islam further said Sheikh Hasina regime in a systematic, widespread and targeted way killed thousands of people during the time. 

"They were involved in BDR carnage, enforced disappearances and raised ayna ghor to persecute, torture and eventually get rid of their political opponents. Around taka two trillion was laundered abroad, raised Begum Para in foreign countries like Canada. As part of their evil attempt to divide and rule policy to keep their wicked regime going, they took refuge of the word 'Razakar' and used to tag those by this term, whoever dared to oppose them," he added.

The ICT chief prosecutor pleaded for two months to submit a probe report in the case against Sheikh Hasina, saying as the gravity of her crimes is very high and those were carried out in a widespread way across the country, the probe body needs more time in this regard.

"The authorities concerned could not execute the arrest warrant against Sheikh Hasina as she managed to flee the country. We, in the meantime, pleaded for issuing the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL red notice against her. We have learned she is in India and our government will request the country to send her back as per the repatriation agreement. The process is underway," Tajul added.

Allowing the prosecution plea in part, the three-member ICT led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder set 17 December 2024, for submitting a probe report in the case. 

The tribunal also ordered the prosecution to submit a report on the execution of the order issuing an arrest warrant against the ousted prime minister on the day.

The two other members of the tribunal are Justice Md Shofiqul Alam Mahmood and Judge M Mohitul Hoque Anam Chowdhury.