Bangladesh Tribunal to Hear Genocide Charges Against Former Cabinet Ministers

18 November

The International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) in Bangladesh has begun reviewing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against nine former government ministers, their advisors, politicians, and officials.

 

According to The Daily Star, the trials are being conducted in Dhaka under heightened security, with limited access granted to journalists. Among the accused are former Justice Minister Anisul Huq, Interior Minister Jahangir Alam, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan, and former Supreme Court judge Shamsuddin Manik. They are accused of involvement in the killings of participants in student-led anti-government protests between July and August, which ultimately led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

 

The ICT has also filed 122 cases against Sheikh Hasina, including 111 related to killings. The tribunal plans to address these charges following her extradition from India, where she has taken refuge after fleeing Bangladesh.

 

Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country on August 5 amid widespread protests against her administration. On the same day, she arrived in India, where authorities have confirmed her stay in a secure location. The protests were driven by student discontent over high unemployment and a lack of opportunities, which escalated into violent unrest across multiple cities in Bangladesh, resulting in approximately 700 deaths.

 

On August 8, an interim government was sworn in, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.

 

 

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Based on TASS materials