A formal complaint has been lodged against ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several high-ranking officials at the International Crimes Tribunal, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity and genocide during the student protests between July 15 and August 5 this year.
The complaint was filed today by Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tanim on behalf of Bulbul Kabir, the father of Alif Ahmed Siam, a class 9 student who was shot by police in Savar on August 5 and succumbed to his injuries two days later.
The other key figures named in the complaint include Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former State Minister for Post, Telecommunication, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, former Inspector General of Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former Additional Commissioner of Detective Branch Harun Or Rashid, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, and former Director General of RAB Md Harun Ur Rashid.
In addition to them, the complaint implicates unnamed ministers, state ministers, MPs, and corrupt officials from the police and RAB, as well as leaders and activists from the Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League. The organisations themselves, along with their affiliated bodies, have also been accused.
According to the complaint, the violence was orchestrated under the direction of the named individuals, who allegedly ordered the use of firearms—both local and automatic—against peaceful, unarmed students and citizens involved in the protests calling for quota reform and later Hasina’s resignation. The complaint says the accused attempted to partially or wholly exterminate the protesters, thus committing acts of genocide and crimes against humanity.
The complaint further highlights provocative statements made by Obaidul Quader and other government figures, which allegedly incited violence. Quader is reported to have stated that the Chhatra League alone was sufficient to “deal with the” the protesting students, and that during the curfew, orders were given to shoot on sight.