Steps to bring Hasina to justice

Necessary steps would be taken to extradite former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India and bring her to justice for alleged mass killings during student protests in July and August, said Md Tajul Islam, the newly appointed chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.

“We will submit a request to the International Criminal Court, as soon as it resumes its work, to issue arrest warrants against all fugitive defendants, including Sheikh Hasina, in connection with the charges of mass murder and crimes against humanity,” he said yesterday at a press conference at the ICT premises in Dhaka.

Tajul said there was an extradition treaty between Bangladesh and India that was signed during Hasina's tenure in 2013.

“I believe she (Hasina) will be the main accused in the Bangladesh genocide. She is accused in most of the cases and we will seek her extradition through legal channels,” he said.

“The crimes took place in an area of ​​56,000 square miles in Bangladesh. In each case, the order was to shoot and kill. Collecting and compiling evidence of these crimes is a major challenge, especially since the main accused, including Hasina, have fled the country,” he said.

He expressed concern that many of the accused are still in Bangladesh holding official positions and may try to destroy evidence. Tajul said his office's top priority is to secure and protect the evidence while ensuring it is presented to the tribunal expeditiously.

The ICT Chief Prosecutor called on the victims, especially the students, to present all the evidence they have and to support the investigating authority or the public prosecutor.

Tajul said the trial would be conducted in the spirit of justice and would ensure that the victims and their families felt that justice had been done.

“The accused face no reprisals, but the perpetrators will not be spared,” he said.

On possible changes to the International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, 1973, Tajul said: “We have just assumed office. We will meet with the government to discuss this matter and take decisions.”

He also confirmed that the ICT and its investigation team would have to be reconstituted as the previous judges and investigators appointed by the former government resigned after the formation of the interim government following the fall of the Hasina-led government.

At least 11 separate cases have been filed with the ICT against Sheikh Hasina, who is currently in India, for allegedly carrying out massacres across the country between July 5 and August 5. According to ICT sources, these cases are currently under investigation.