The investigation agency of the International Criminal Tribunal has started the investigation into two separate charges of genocide and crimes against humanity against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and several high-ranking officials.
The complaints were lodged on Wednesday and Thursday by Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tanim on behalf of Bulbul Kabir, the father of Alif Ahmed Siam, and Md Sanaullah, the father of Mehdi.
The other key figures named in the complaints 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 complaints implicate 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 complaints, 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 complaints further highlight 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.
According to the sources of ICT, the investigation of this allegation has started after reviewing the reports published in the media about the hundreds of murders that took place from July 15 to August 5 around the quota reform movement. After reviewing these reports, the agency will visit the scene. After that, necessary steps will be taken to arrest the accused, said the deputy director of the investigation agency, Additional Superintendent of Police Md. Ataur Rahman.
When asked about this, he said on Thursday that we have started working with the goal of completing the investigation as soon as possible. As the accusation of genocide is a recent incident, it will not be a problem to get evidence, he added.
"Besides, many accused in the case have been arrested in other cases and are in police custody. As a result, we do not have to rush to arrest the accused. Therefore, efforts are being made to complete the investigation quickly and hand over the report to the prosecution," he further stated.
Gazi MH Tamim, the lawyer who filed the petition, said the accusation of genocide and crimes against humanity has been recorded as a case.
Also, an investigation officer has been appointed in this case and the agency has started reviewing by collecting the newspapers at the time of the incident, he added.