Bangladesh has called for the trial of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity, while she also faces a domestic tribunal trial in her home country. This demand was made public by the office of Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh’s interim government, during a meeting with ICC prosecutor Karim A. Khan on Thursday.
According to an official statement from Yunus’ press wing, Yunus discussed the issue of Hasina’s prosecution with Khan at his official residence in Jamuna. Hasina, leader of the Awami League, fled to India on August 5, following massive protests against her government over a controversial job quota system. Three days later, Yunus, a Nobel laureate, assumed his position as Chief Adviser of the interim government. Yunus emphasized that Bangladesh intends to pursue legal action against Hasina and her allies, specifically for their roles in the alleged “massacre” during the July-August 2023 mass uprising and the enforced disappearances over the last 15 years of Hasina’s rule.
Currently, dozens of cases are being processed in Bangladesh’s Internal Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) against Hasina and her cabinet members. Many of the accused are either in jail, in hiding, or abroad, and Dhaka has sought Interpol’s assistance to repatriate Hasina from India.
Yunus also stated that his government would make efforts to secure Hasina’s return from India so she can face trial in Bangladesh. However, during the meeting with Khan, the ICC prosecutor indicated that the international court would extend cooperation to Bangladesh’s ICT-BD in handling the case. The ICT-BD has already issued arrest warrants for Hasina and several key figures of her Awami League party.
The conversation between Yunus and Khan also covered other significant matters, including the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Khan informed Yunus that the ICC had formally requested an arrest warrant for Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing for his role in crimes against humanity in relation to the treatment of Rohingya Muslims. The two also discussed the broader humanitarian situation in Myanmar and the accountability of those responsible for the atrocities during the 2023 mass movement in Bangladesh.
This development marks a new chapter in the legal and political tensions surrounding Hasina’s government, with international and domestic courts both involved in seeking justice for alleged human rights violations.
