The police have failed to locate former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at their known addresses in connection with a crimes against humanity case related to the July-August genocide.
As a result, the International Crimes Tribunal has ordered that a wanted notice in newspaper be published against them. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for June 24.
On Monday, June 16, a three-member judicial panel of International Crimes Tribunal-1, chaired by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, issued the directive.
During the session, another accused in the case, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, was present in court. Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam represented the prosecution at the hearing.
On June 1, the tribunal took into cognizance five specific charges of crimes against humanity related to the July-August genocide, filed against three individuals former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former IGP Chowdhury Mamun. Arrest warrants were re-issued against Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal at the same time.
That day, Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tazul Islam, along with Prosecutors Abdus Sobhan Tarafder and Mizanul Islam, read out the charges in court which were allowed to be broadcast across all media outlets.
Previously, formal charges were submitted at the International Crimes Tribunal naming Sheikh Hasina as the principal accused in the crimes against humanity case.
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On May 12, the investigation agency submitted a report accusing Sheikh Hasina of being the mastermind behind the July genocide. The report named her as the key figure who gave the orders.
Earlier on February 18, the tribunal directed that the investigation into the July-August genocide involving Sheikh Hasina be completed by April 20. The directive was issued by the same three-member panel led by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumdar, following a time-extension request from the prosecution. The prosecution at that session was represented by Additional Chief Prosecutor Mizanul Islam.
On December 17 last year, the tribunal had ordered that investigations into two cases — one involving Sheikh Hasina and another involving Obaidul Quader and 46 others be completed within two months.
The trial at the International Crimes Tribunal is ongoing against Sheikh Hasina and other accused for their alleged role in the anti-discrimination student movement, during which unarmed students and civilians were reportedly fired upon and killed. The Awami League government is accused of conducting a brutal crackdown to suppress the movement, leading to the deaths of nearly 1,500 people.
