A dozen former ministers and officials from the fallen Bangladeshi regime of Sheikh Hasina appeared Monday, November 18 before a court in the capital Dhaka for having “permitted the massacres” during the deadly repression of the riots last summer.
2 mins
During a hearing before the International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh, prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam announced that the eleven former ministers, the judge and the former government secretary presented were accused of having ordered the violence against the demonstrations initially launched by the students.
“ They are being prosecuted for complicity in having allowed the massacres by participating in their planning, inciting violence, ordering the police to shoot on sight and opposing those who tried to prevent genocide. “, he detailed.
Former Prime Minister exiled in India targeted by several accusations
The court also formally ordered former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to appear before it to answer charges of “massacres, murders and crimes against humanity”. She is already the subject of an international arrest warrant and a red notice from Interpol.
Sheikh Hasina fled on August 5 from her palace and exiled to Indiaafter several weeks of demonstrations which caused, according to a still provisional assessment, at least 700 deaths. Aged 77, she reigned with an iron fist over Bangladesh (1996-2001 then 2009-2024), accused of having executed, kidnapped or imprisoned hundreds of political opponents.
Investigations still underway into abuses attributed to the old regime
Prosecutor Islam told the press after the hearing that investigations were still underway into the abuses attributed to the Sheikh Hasina regime before the summer. “ Crimes leading to mass murder and genocide have taken place over the past sixteen years “, he stressed. He is due to present a new indictment in court on December 17.
Arriving at the court under close police protection, the accused listened to the list of charges against them without being questioned. Among them were former commerce minister Kamal Ahmed Majumdar, his ex-law colleague Anisul Huq, former Supreme Court judge Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and former social affairs minister Dipu Moni, the only woman.
Also readBangladesh: former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “did not want violence”, assures her son