Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal issues second arrest warrant against former PM Hasina

Bangladesh's ICT issues arrest warrants against deposed PM Sheikh Hasina and others for enforced disappearances, sparking controversy and investigations.

Bangladesh’s International Criminal Tribunal (ICT) on Monday (January 6, 2025) issued arrest warrants against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and 11 others, including former military generals and a former police chief, for their alleged role in incidents of enforced disappearances.

Cost and benefit: On Bangladesh, India and Sheikh Hasina

This was the second arrest warrant by the ICT against Ms. Hasina, who fled to India after her Awami League regime's toppling following unprecedented anti-government protests in August last year. The tribunal has so far recorded three cases against her.

"Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, chairman of the tribunal, issued the arrest warrant after hearing a prosecution plea,” an ICT official said.

The Inspector General of Police was ordered to arrest the twelve people, including Ms. Hasina, and produce them before the tribunal on February 12 in the case filed over complaints of enforced disappearances of several hundred people.

The deposed premier’s then-defence adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique and former IGP Benazir Ahmed are among those named in the case. While Mr. Siddique is currently under custody, Mr. Ahmed is believed to be on the run.

ICT Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam did not disclose the names of most of the accused “in the interest of investigations and their arrest”.