Two separate cases have been filed against 23 people including former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, the party's General Secretary Obaidul Quader, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and former Law Minister Anisul Huq on charges of crimes against humanity.
The cases were filed with the Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal on Thursday, accusing several unidentified individuals.
Other notable accused are former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, former Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, former Agriculture Ministers Matia Chowdhury and Abdur Razzaque, former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel, former State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, former IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun, former Additional IGP and DB Chief Harun-Or-Rashid, former DMP Commissioner Habibur Rahman, former RAB Director General Md. Harun-Or-Rashid, Chhatra League President Saddam Hossain, and Chhatra League General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan.
Supreme Court lawyer Gazi MH Tamim filed the complaints on behalf of Md. Khairul Islam, brother of Saiful Islam Sekul, who was shot dead on August 5 during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and by Md. Shahidul Islam, father of Mehdi Hasan, who was shot dead on July 20.
The office of the Investigation Agency of the International Crimes Tribunal has received the complaints.
The complaints were filed under section 3(2) and 4(1) /(2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act-1973.
The complaints state that under the orders and planning of the accused, others carried out genocide and crimes against humanity by indiscriminately firing with domestic and foreign firearms, killing unarmed students and civilians involved in the Anti-discrimination Movement with the intent to eliminate them.
The former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled the country amid the mass uprising on August 5.