Arrest warrants have been issued against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal in a genocide case linked to crimes against humanity during the July 2024 uprising.
The order was issued on Sunday (June 1) by a three-member panel of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), headed by Justice Md. Golam Mortuza Mojumder.
Previously, the tribunal accepted five charges of crimes against humanity involving Sheikh Hasina, Kamal, and former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. In this case, Sheikh Hasina and Kamal now face fresh arrest warrants, while Al-Mamun has been shown as arrested.
On the same day, formal charges against Sheikh Hasina were submitted to the tribunal over her alleged role in the atrocities during the July-August 2024 unrest. The tribunal proceedings were broadcast live on BTV.
On May 12, investigators submitted their report naming Sheikh Hasina as the person who ordered the July massacre. The tribunal had earlier instructed that the investigation be completed by April 20, based on a prosecution request. Additional Chief Prosecutor Mizanul Islam led the prosecution.
On December 17, 2024, the tribunal had directed investigators to complete probes within two months in two separate cases involving Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and 46 others.
Sheikh Hasina and other top officials are currently being tried by the International Crimes Tribunal for allegedly ordering and planning the use of deadly force against unarmed student protesters during the anti-discrimination movement. According to the charges, the Awami League government carried out indiscriminate shootings to suppress the uprising, resulting in around 1,500 civilian deaths.
