On Monday, Bangladesh’s wing of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) issued arrest warrants against Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister who was forcibly ousted by a contrived and violent coup. Apart from Hasina, ICT (Bangladesh) has also issued arrest warrants against ten others including her former defence adviser Maj Gen (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
The warrant pertains to two cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances during her tenure in the last one-and-a-half-decade.
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According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) report, the order was passed by a tribunal led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder after allowing a plea from Chief Prosecutor Muhammad Tajul Islam.
In its order, the tribunal directed the authorities to arrest Sheikh Hasina and produce her and others before it by 12th February.
The BSS report added that the tribunal also asked the authorities to produce Major General (sacked) Ziaul Ahsan, on February 12 after showing him arrested in the case. He is already behind bars after getting arrested in some other cases.
Tajul Islam said the names of others could not be revealed for the sake of the investigation. As of now, two cases have been filed against Sheikh Hasina with the ICT.